Press Association
Sunday 12th February 2012
A film maker from London detained in Gaza by Hamas said his release was a victory for the rights of journalists to cover difficult stories.
Paul Martin was arrested on February 14 in a Gaza court where he was due to give evidence on behalf of a Palestinian militant charged with collaborating with Israel.
He was released without charge on Thursday and immediately vowed to carry on reporting "fearlessly".
Hamas officials had accused the reporter of being a security threat.
The freelance journalist from London, who is in his mid 50s, is now recovering in Jerusalem. He is expected to fly home in the next few days.
Speaking on Thursday, he 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. This has happened all round the world."
Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader, had alleged that Mr Martin "was working on defaming the image of the Palestinian people by saying that they smuggle weapons through tunnels", referring to hundreds of border tunnels that bypass the blockade of Gaza imposed by Israel and Egypt.
Mr Martin added: "I call on all governments who are holding journalists for their fearless work, which has upset governments, or groups or militias, to release them immediately.
"And for all their governments to act in the same solid way as the British, the South African governments and the people who have supported this effort, including fellow journalists. I was never accused of any crime although I was interrogated for something which was blatantly impossible for me to have done.
"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. I will continue to report fearlessly on all subjects, no matter what the consequences might be."