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Thu 07 Jul 2007The release of Alan JohnstonThe release of the BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston is very welcome, despite the propaganda it served for Hamas in freeing him. He'd been held for 114 days in conditions he described as "like being buried alive" by the Army of Islam group, the heavily armed Doghmush family clan which is both linked to Al Qaeda and criminality.Mr Johnston was released into the hands of Hamas leader and former Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh (still PM in his organisation's eyes), in what was designed as a public demonstration of the group's authority in Gaza following its recent routing of the Fatah forces of President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas is determined to show that its writ runs in the beleaguered territory, and, just as importantly, as a spokesman insisted, that it "is serious in imposing security and stability". The group also suggested the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas-allied militants last year, could be freed next, although, true to form, adding that Israel must release hundreds more Palestinian prisoners. Some good sign, although Hamas has made clear it has no intention of disarming the Army of Islam. Hamas will have to do much more to convince of its bona fides as a partner in peace.