At the news conference, Mr. Johnston thanked all those who had worked for his release, including Mr. Haniya and Hamas. He said he was only beaten in the last half-hour before his release, and said that once Hamas took over Gaza, his kidnappers, whom he described as “comfortable,” began to get very nervous.
“It was really grim,” Mr. Johnston said. “It was like being buried alive, really, removed from the world.” His kidnappers were indifferent and he became very ill twice, he said, “and I had the feeling that they would watch television while the British guy died in the other room.”
Mr. Haniya said the release was a moment of pride for all Palestinians, and another senior Hamas leader, Mahmoud Zahar, said Hamas would enforce the rule of law in Gaza and protect foreigners. “It’s a new era,” Mr. Zahar said. “We will not allow illegal activities against anyone.”"
I suspect that last statement will bear some interpretation.
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