Alan Johnston, a BBC Gaza reporter, was abducted 20 days ago in Gaza City, where he lived and worked for the past three years. The Palestinian government called the kidnapping “despicable”, and vowed to “bring the criminals to justice”. President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya both say they’re doing everything possible to free the reporter.

BBC colleagues, the Arab League, the European Union, Amnesty International, and Reporters Without Frontiers have all appealed for Johnston’s safe return. In addition, the Palestinian Journalists’ Union has been critical of the government, and will be engaging in a three-day boycott to press Palestinian authorities to do more to secure Johnston’s release.

Naim Tubasi, the head of the union, said no Palestinian media outlet would cover stories on presidential activities or the new government until Johnston was secure. “If Alan Johnston is not returned after three days, then we will continue. This is a battle for me, my union and the Palestinian people. We must be successful,” he said.

After leaving his office to drive home, the journalist’s abandoned car was found on a street on the 12th of March. He had been in Jerusalem earlier in the day, and Israeli forces claim that Johnston was abducted by the same group which captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in June 2006. Both the Popular Resistance Committees and the Palestinian Army of Islam deny Israel’s accusation.

Johnston’s kidnapping is particularly odd since he was regarded as a champion for the Palestinian cause. His abduction has been the longest-ever for a foreigner in Gaza. It is still unclear who kidnapped the journalist, why, and what they hope to gain from his capture. No demands have been made. It seems his kidnappers merely wanted to silence him rather than use him as a bargaining chip. Now who would want to silence a foreign journalist serving the Palestinian cause?

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