Hamas sets free British journalist after month

Paul Martin was arrested on February 14 in a Gaza court where he had intended to give evidence on behalf of a Palestinian militant charged with collaborating with Israel. Hamas officials accused Martin of being a security threat.

Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader, had alleged the film-maker "was working on defaming the image of the Palestinian people by saying that they smuggle weapons through tunnels", referring to hundreds of border tunnels that bypass the blockade of Gaza imposed by Israel and Egypt.

After being freed, Mr Martin left Gaza via the Erez crossing into Israel accompanied by British diplomats. Hamas says he signed a pledge not to return.

The freelance journalist from London, is now recovering in Jerusalem and is expected to fly home in the next few days.

Speaking following his release, his wife Anne said: "Paul is an experienced and highly-regarded foreign correspondent with 30 years experience. He is an innocent man who went into Gaza to testify in the trial of a Palestinian whom he had interviewed for a documentary."