Deposed Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh denied reports on Thursday night that the Army of Islam, the group that kidnapped BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, had received money in exchange for his release, Israel Radio reported.
| "Technically, they didn't. It was a wire transfer, all very antiseptic. And it wasn't to Don Mumtaz. It was to Sonny. So, really, we didn't pay him off." |
According to Haniyeh, Johnston was released without preconditions, and no deal was struck with the kidnappers. The kidnappers, however, claimed they had received $5 million, as well as large quantities of weaponry. The organization added that Hamas had promised not to harm any members of the group. |