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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Hamas releases British journalist | Hamas releases British journalist |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas has released a British journalist accused of espionage in the Gaza Strip. | The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas has released a British journalist accused of espionage in the Gaza Strip. |
| Paul Martin, a freelance journalist accused by the movement of working for Israel, was arrested on 15 February. | Paul Martin, a freelance journalist accused by the movement of working for Israel, was arrested on 15 February. |
| Hamas, which runs the enclave, has not filed any charge against him in court but said it was deporting him because it "believed him to be guilty". | Hamas, which runs the enclave, has not filed any charge against him in court but said it was deporting him because it "believed him to be guilty". |
| Mr Martin denied the accusation and said his release was a "great victory for the rights of journalists". | |
| "I was never accused of any crime although I was interrogated for something which was blatantly impossible for me to have done," Mr Martin said in a statement. | |
| "I think eventually it was realised that there was no case against me, but it took a long time for extremely suspicious security people to absorb this message." | |
| Mr Martin's lawyer said the charges were "ridiculous" . | |
| His family also strongly rejected the Hamas accusations, saying he was an innocent journalist. | |
| "We are extremely relieved that Paul has been released and pleased that the authorities responded to our appeals," his wife Anne said. | "We are extremely relieved that Paul has been released and pleased that the authorities responded to our appeals," his wife Anne said. |
| He had gone to Gaza to give evidence in the defence of a Palestinian man he had interviewed, who had also been accused of spying for Israel. | He had gone to Gaza to give evidence in the defence of a Palestinian man he had interviewed, who had also been accused of spying for Israel. |
| "Paul has maintained his innocence throughout this ordeal," Mrs Martin said. | "Paul has maintained his innocence throughout this ordeal," Mrs Martin said. |
| No charges were brought against Mr Martin in court, but he was made to leave Gaza on the orders of Hamas. | |
| He has been forbidden from returning to Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, Hamas said. | He has been forbidden from returning to Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, Hamas said. |
| "My release is a great victory for the right of journalists to be able to cover difficult stories in a fearless and accurate way without being subject to arrest, or worse at the hands of a group that dislikes their journalism," Mr Martin said. | |
| He thanked people who helped secure his release. | |
| 'Defamation' | 'Defamation' |
| The journalist and film-maker was handed over to a delegation from the British consulate and driven in a diplomatic vehicle to the Erez crossing with Israel, BBC Gaza correspondent Jon Donnison says. | |
| Mr Martin was originally held for two weeks. Hamas then announced his detention would be extended to a month. | Mr Martin was originally held for two weeks. Hamas then announced his detention would be extended to a month. |
| Senior Hamas leader Mahmud al-Zahar held a news conference to announce the release at his home in Gaza. | Senior Hamas leader Mahmud al-Zahar held a news conference to announce the release at his home in Gaza. |
| "After concluding the investigation, it was found that Paul Martin has been found guilty of being an agent for Israel," he said. | "After concluding the investigation, it was found that Paul Martin has been found guilty of being an agent for Israel," he said. |
| Mr Martin "was working on defaming the image of the Palestinian people by saying that they smuggle weapons through tunnels", the Associated Press reported. | Mr Martin "was working on defaming the image of the Palestinian people by saying that they smuggle weapons through tunnels", the Associated Press reported. |
| He said Mr Martin was now barred from entering all Palestinian territory, although Hamas authority does not extend to the West Bank, which is run by the rival Fatah movement. | He said Mr Martin was now barred from entering all Palestinian territory, although Hamas authority does not extend to the West Bank, which is run by the rival Fatah movement. |
| Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 after winning elections there in 2006. |