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Kidnapped Journalists Appear on Videotape
Fox News journalists Steve Centanni, right, and Olaf Wiig, who were seized nine days ago in the Gaza Strip, said their captors were treating them well.
(Ramatan News Agency Via Associated Press)
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Dion Nissenbaum, the Jerusalem bureau chief for McClatchy Newspapers, was held for about eight hours at gunpoint last October. In retrospect, Nissenbaum said Wednesday, "it had elements of the Keystone Cops." The kidnappers' car got stuck in the sand and had to be towed, then the muffler fell off and the abductors had to stop for repairs. He was released after the abductors issued a demand for 50 jobs for themselves and friends in the Palestinian security forces.
The abduction has become a hot political issue within Palestinian groups, with leaders of both Hamas and Fatah pledging to find and release the journalists.
"This act contradicts Palestinian habits and customs," Ismail Haniyeh, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, said Wednesday.
In the 90-second video, Centanni and Wiig were shown against a dark background, seated cross-legged. The two were animated, made small jokes and urged their families not to worry.
"I will do the worrying for all of us," Wiig said. Both men urged that political pressure be put on governments to help with their release. Wiig noted, however, "I am sure you are doing this."
"Just want to let you know I am here and alive and give my love to my family and friends and ask to do anything you can to try to help us get out of here," Centanni said.
[Early Thursday, Israeli soldiers crossed into the Gaza Strip, backed by tanks and helicopters, Palestinian witnesses and security officials said, according to the Associated Press. Gunmen firing at the soldiers sparked clashes in which two gunmen were wounded, Palestinian officials said. The army confirmed that a senior Hamas operative was arrested, and at least one gunman was killed, the AP reported.]
On Wednesday, hospital officials said Hossam Jaradat, the West Bank leader of Islamic Jihad's armed wing, was shot in the Jenin refugee camp. Islamic Jihad said it was not sure Israel was behind the shooting, according to the AP.
Special correspondents Samuel Sockol in Jerusalem and Islam Abdelkarim in Gaza contributed to this report.
