Palestinian authority vows to punish kidnappers of UN workers

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said on Saturday that it would punish those involved in the abduction of two UN workers.

Spokesman of the Palestinian Interior Ministry Tawfiq Abu Khousa told the "Voice of Palestine" radio that investigation in the kidnapping was underway.

He said recent kidnappings in the Gaza Strip posed a grave threat to the security and stability in the Palestinian territories.

"We will not allow anyone to kidnap foreigners in a bid to force the authorities to meet their demands," he added.

Australian freelance writer Zoe Constantine and Palestinian photographer Steve Sabila, who are working for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), were kidnapped by masked gunmen in Gaza on Friday afternoon.

They were freed several hours later after Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Youssef called for an immediate release.

The hostage-takers said that the abduction was aimed to press the PNA to help release Jihad Abed, a Palestinian intelligence officer kidnapped by gunmen in Gaza on Thursday.

Source: Xinhua