Hamas Increases Pressure on Johnston's Kidnappers

Hamas security forces yesterday surrounded a group of buildings in Gaza City where the BBC journalist Alan Johnston is believed to be held following several ultimatums to his captors warning that force could be used to secure his freedom.

From 5.30am, members of the Hamas police, the Executive Force, took over the rooftops of high rise apartment blocks that overlook the stronghold of the Dogmush family in the Sabra district of Gaza City. The activity could be part of a policy to increase pressure on the kidnappers or the beginning of a rescue attempt.

The forces closed off all streets in the area and checked cars and individuals who wanted to leave the area. There was sporadic shooting throughout the day and one passerby was shot dead in crossfire.

The Hamas force has detained several members of the Dogmush family at roadblocks while Dogmush gunmen abducted 10 students of the Islamic University from their residence in the Sabra area.

The Dogmush family is a large clan which has several groups, one of which, under Mumtaz Dogmush, has been involved in several kidnappings, including that of Mr Johnston. The group, which has used the name of the Army of Islam, was involved in the abduction of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit more than a year ago, although it was sidelined soon afterwards.

Last month, the group issued a video of Mr Johnston in what appeared to be a vest packed with explosives and threatened to kill the reporter if there was an attempt to free him.

As darkness fell last night, dozens of Hamas gunmen in black masks moved closer to the Dogmush compound, a mixture of apartment blocks and commercial premises. Since Hamas has taken control of Gaza, its leaders have repeated their intention to free Mr Johnston, to demonstrate that they can provide better security in Gaza than the forces of the Palestinian Authority and Fatah which they routed in street battles two weeks ago.

Nehad Nishwan, 27, who lives close to the Dogmush family, said Hamas gunmen came to local apartment blocks in the early morning. Families fled in fear at the prospect of heavy fighting, he said. "The members of the Executive Force said they were waiting until sunset before moving in," he said. Nearby, three members of the Executive Force were sitting on the steps of a mosque. "By tomorrow Johnston will be free, God willing," said one. "We are awaiting orders to go in."

However, Simon Wilson, the bureau chief of the BBC, said he believed that the buildup of forces was a tactic to increase pressure on the kidnappers rather than a prelude to a rescue attempt. "We have repeatedly said that we do not want military action to free Alan," he said.

At a press conference in Gaza City, Ismail Haniyeh, the disputed prime minister, said that Hamas hoped to end Mr Johnston's captivity peacefully but retained other options. Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, accused Mr Johnston's captors of smearing the Palestinian people's reputation and of seeking "to prove to the world that we are a group of militias that fight each other to gain personal ends."