Hamas is reporting that the two kidnapped Fox News Journalists, Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig may be released "within hours".
Earlier the abducted Fox News US television journalists were said to be "safe and sound" after a deadline set by their captors for Washington to free Muslim prisoners passed, the Palestinian interior ministry said.
"I hope this affair of the abduction of two journalists will be resolved in the coming hours," the premier of the Hamas-led government said.
"I am personally following developments along with the minister of interior," Haniya added. On Tuesday he gave reassurances that his government was working towards the immediate and unconditional release of the pair.
"We will continue our efforts and contacts to secure the release of the kidnapped journalists," interior ministry spokesman Khaled Abu Hillal told AFP an hour after the midday (0900 GMT) ultimatum expired.
"We can confirm that they are safe and sound but we cannot give fuller details for the time being because we want our efforts to be crowned with success."
Pray for their release unharmed. At least wish them well.
UPDATE: The Jerusalem Post is reporting that Hamas has reached an agreement with the kidnappers and received assurances that the two men will be released unharmed and unconditionally.
The kidnappers of the two Fox News journalists abducted in Gaza City on August 14 have promised to release them unharmed, Palestinian Authority officials said on Saturday night.
According to the officials, the PA has managed to establish contact with the kidnappers, who promised to resolve the affair peacefully.
PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said he had personally received assurances from the kidnappers that the two, reporter Steve Centanni, from the US, and cameraman Olaf Wiig, from New Zealand, would be released unharmed and unconditionally.
PA Interior Minister Said Siam, who is in charge of part of the PA security forces, announced that significant progress had been achieved in efforts to secure the release of the men.
"There are encouraging indications that the two will be released soon," he said, refusing to elaborate.
Ghazi Hamad, a spokesman for the Hamas-controlled PA government, also said that he was "very encouraged" that the two would be released soon. "I believe they will be released soon because of a breakthrough in the negotiations with the kidnappers," he said.
We'll see.
