GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Militants freed two Fox News journalists yesterday in the Gaza Strip, ending a nearly two week hostage drama in which one of the former captives said they were forced at gunpoint to make statements, including that they had converted to Islam.
Reporter Steve Centanni, 60, of Washington, and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, of New Zealand, were dropped off at Gaza City’s Beach Hotel by Palestinian security officials. A tearful Mr. Centanni briefly embraced a Palestinian journalist in the lobby, then rushed upstairs with Mr. Wiig behind him.
The pair, who appeared to be in good health, then met with Palestinian officials, including Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. The three men sat in a circle of chairs at the hotel, before the journalists held a press conference, then left and crossed into Israel.
“I want to thank everybody. I am happy to be here. I hope that this never scares a single journalist away from coming to Gaza to cover the story because the Palestinian people are very beautiful and kindhearted,” Mr. Centanni told reporters. “The world needs to know more about them. Don’t be discouraged.”
Mr. Wiig also said he was worried that the kidnapping would scare off reporters.
“My biggest concern really is that as a result of what happened to us, foreign journalists will be discouraged from coming to tell the story, and that would be a great tragedy for the people of Palestine,” Mr. Wiig said. “You guys need us on the streets, and you need people to be aware of the story.”
Mr. Wiig’s wife, Anita McNaught, thanked Palestinian officials and Fox News for their efforts in getting the men released. The men declined to take questions, then traveled to the Erez crossing and left Gaza.
In a phone call with Fox News, Mr. Centanni said that during his capture, he was held at times face down in a dark garage, tied up in painful positions, and that he and Mr. Wiig were forced at gunpoint to make statements, including that they had converted to Islam.
“We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint,” Mr. Centanni told Fox. “Don’t get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it, but it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns, and we didn’t know what … was going on.”
The journalists had been seized in Gaza City on Aug. 14 by a previously unknown group calling itself the Holy Jihad Brigades.
However, senior Palestinian security officials said yesterday the name was a front for local militants and that Palestinian authorities had known the identity of the kidnappers from the start.
In the past two years, Palestinian militants have seized more than two dozen foreigners, usually to settle personal scores, but released them unharmed within hours. The Fox journalists had been held longest.
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