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Update On Kidnapped Fox News Journos: Shep Smith Offers Reason For Optimism

TV Newser |  News Hounds |  Posted Thursday August 17, 2006 at 11:28 AM

An update on kidnapped Fox News journalists Olaf Wiig and Steve Centannikidnapped in Gaza: Wiig's wife, Anita McNaught, appeared on Israeli and Palestinian television to plea for their release (she called Wiig and Centanni "friends of the Palestinians"), but there is still no new information regarding their location or their condition. Fox did provide some new information on air last night:

Per Brit Hume via Newshounds:

• No one has claimed responsibility; in fact, no militant groups in the area have disclaimed responsibility and no demands have been made for their release.

• Palestinian police have set up road blocks in Gaza and are searching cars in an effort to find the newsmen, or their captors, with specific focus on Gaza City.

• New Zealand's Ambassador Jan Henderson met today with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the situation, and Fox News Mid-East Correspondent Jennifer Griffin and bureau chief Elliot Fastman have been working with Palestinian authorities in Gaza in an ongoing effort to find the two men.

• The organization of the Islamic Conference, headquartered in Saudi Arabia, has condemned the kidnappings, saying it does not serve the national interest of the Palestinian people and called for the immediate release of Steve and Olaf

There's been no official word on their condition, though there have been calls throughout the Arab world for their release. We have kept the information to just the facts as we know them for reasons which I'm sure are clear to our viewers. Most often when journalists are captured within Gaza, they are returned within 24, 48 hours. That has not [been] the case here, though there are indications of some kind that this may in fact resolve itself. And we have been led to believe now that Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig have not been harmed in any way. It's our hope that we'll all be seeing them again very soon, Greta.

We join the rest of the journalistic community in keeping these men and their families in our thoughts and hoping for their safe and speedy return.