An Arab Israeli journalist taken hostage in Gaza was released on Tuesday, a Palestinian source told Xinhua.

Riyadh Ali, producer of the US cable news network (CNN), was now under Palestinian police custody, the source said.

Right after his release, Ali told reporters the kidnappers introduced themselves as members of al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah movement, as soon as he was kidnapped by Palestinian militants.

"I don't know if they were really members of al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades or not. All what I want to do is to go back to my town to see my family, my wife and my children," Ali said, looking pale and unshaved.

"I was not physically tortured, they (kidnappers) treated me well and offered me food, drinks and cigarettes," said Ali.

"They told me that the reason they kidnapped me is because I'm a Druze, and that they wanted to see if I'm related to the Druze people who serve in the Israeli army and the Israeli border police," he said.

He said he thanks Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, the CNN and everyone has contributed "in helping to release me."

Brigadier General Saeb el Aajez, commander of the Palestinian police told reporters the kidnappers, whose identity is unknown yet, had agreed to release Ali last night, but changed their mind later. They had then released him Tuesday afternoon.

He said the police is investigating to find out the identity of the kidnappers, and will bring them to justice, adding that "the kidnappers didn't present any demand for releasing Riyadh Ali."

On Monday, Palestinian militants blocked a taxi in Gaza City and ordered Ali out of the car.

Such an incident involving journalists has been rare in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank over the past four years of the Palestinian intifada (uprising), which broke out in September 2000.