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Three hostages freed in Gaza
A British aid worker and her parents held hostage for two days were safely under consular protection in Israel early Saturday.
A British aid worker and her parents held hostage for two days were safely under consular protection in Israel early Saturday after being freed unharmed by their captors in the Gaza Strip, officials said.
A previously unknown group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of Kate Burton and her parents Hugh and Helen, shortly after their release late Friday.
The group, calling itself the Mujahadeen Bayt Al-Maqdes Brigades released a video showing a masked gunman reading a statement, with Burton, 24, standing silently next to him with her hands behind her back.
"We have decided to pardon the three Britons as a gesture of goodwill in return for a seriousness in answering our demands," the unidentified man said.
The Foreign Office in London confirmed early Saturday that the three Britons, taken hostage on Wednesday, had been released unharmed.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said the Burtons were "well and in good spirits".
"We are pleased to confirm that Kate, Win (Helen) and Hugh Burton have been released unharmed. They are currently with officials in our consulate general in Jerusalem who are providing them with all necessary help and care," it said.
"We condemn all kidnappings which can never be a legitimate means of achieving any objective.
"Since we first heard of the Burtons' abduction, the British government has worked closely with the Palestinian Authority and others. We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to all those who helped secure the release of the Burtons."
The Burtons' extended family in Britain also released a statement through the Foreign Office in which they expressed their joy at their relatives' release.
"We are overjoyed to hear that Kate and her parents have been released safely," the family said.
Burton and her parents was abducted at gunpoint on Wednesday close to the Rafah border crossing into Egypt from the southern Gaza Strip.
Their capture was greeted with anger and dismay by many ordinary Palestinians and also their political leaders who are attempting to attract aid workers to the Gaza Strip.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat branded the abductions as "shameful" and damaging to Palestinian interests.
"I'm happy that this despicable, shameful act is over. These people are friends and I hope that this will be the last (such event)," he said.
The group which claimed to have kidnapped the three called for Israel's withdrawal from the West Bank and an end to the de-facto "no-go zone" established by Israel north of the Gaza Strip to prevent rocket fire on Israeli territory.
It also demanded an end to the Israeli policy of targetted killings, the release of Palestinian prisoners and a guarantee of free elections in East Jerusalem next month.
The group threatened to kidnap EU vote monitors due in the territories next month unless their demands were met.
There has been a rash of kidnappings in Gaza since the summer. Most of the victims have been released unharmed within a matter of hours after the captors submitted demands for jobs or payment to the Palestinian Authority.
British authorities made clear Friday they would not consider paying any ransom to secure the Burtons' release and left the case in the hands of the Palestinian Authority.
Three other Britons have been kidnapped since August in Gaza, including an employee of the United Nations who was freed after a gun battle between the kidnappers and members of the security services.
The kidnappings have shone an unwelcome international spotlight on the Palestinian Authority's failure to control the security situation in Gaza since Israel pulled out its troops and handed over control during the summer.
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas issued specific orders in August to the security services to ensure the safety and protection of all foreigners in the territories.
Palestinian police added to the sense of anarchy in Gaza on Friday by forcing a temporary halt to crossings into Egypt.
Around 100 members of the police force gathered outside the front of the Rafah terminal, prompting staff to retreat to their offices, in protest against the killing of one of their colleagues on Thursday.
Fearing that the protest could spiral out of control, Palestinian security chiefs told European Union observers at Rafah to move temporarily to their nearby headquarters several miles away from the terminal.
