Gaza kidnappers seek deal
Army of Islam calls for 'joint sharia council' to rule on fate of kidnapped BBC reporter
In response the BBC said that it is “aware of these reports and is continuing to monitor the situation closely”.
The Army of Islam, an offshoot of the Gazan Dagmoush clan, kidnapped Johnston last March, and has refused to heed Hamas's calls for his release, sparking a tense standoff with Hamas forces in the Sabra district of Gaza City.
Hamas has repeatedly threatened to completely destroy the Army of Islam in an armed assault, prompting the Army of Islam to threaten to kill Johnston if Hamas attempted to storm its compound.
The call for a compromise came in the form of a "reconciliation letter," signed by the Army of Islam, and uploaded onto the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Firdaws internet forum in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
"It has been agreed that Sheikh Ali Ben Aouda al-Ghafri will intervene to reconcile the brothers in Hamas and those in the Army of Islam by releasing people kidnapped by both sides," the message read.
It called for a "conferring with Allah's law with regards to the British prisoner with the Army of Islam through a legal committee whose members are chosen by both groups," the letter added.
"The above mentioned agreement has been signed and God is a witness," the message said. The document was signed by the Army of Islam, but the signature space reserved for Hamas contained the message: "Unfortunately, Hamas has refused to sign."
Joseph Nasr contributed to this report
