The British anti-Israel worker (referred to by the press as a “humanitarian”) kidnapped in Gaza has apparently been released, according to spokesliar Saeb Erekat: Britons released in Gaza safe after ‘shameful’ kidnap: Erakat.

Saeb Erekat? I thought he resigned.

LONDON (AFP) - Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat confirmed that three Britons kidnapped in the Gaza Strip had been released and were safe, branding their abduction “shameful” and damaging to Palestinian interests.

“Some of my people there confirmed to me that they are now on their way to Gaza (City). They haven’t reached Gaza,” he told BBC television by telephone.

“I’m happy that this despicable, shameful act is over. These people are friends and I hope that this will be the last (such event). They are safe and well,” he added.

“We have some people from the British consulate in Gaza, they will be handed to them and I am sure that they will take them to Jerusalem.”

Humanitarian aid worker Kate Burton, 24, and her parents Hugh and Helen were released late Friday after a two-day ordeal, Palestinian MP Kamal al-Sharafi told AFP in Gaza earlier. …

Erakat said the Palestinian authorities had exerted “every possible human effort” to find the abducted Britons and was “very happy” they were now in safe hands.

“There were house-to-house searches, area-to-area searches, town-to-town searches,” he said.