A BBC reporter who was kidnapped in the Gaza Strip has been released after four months in captivity, the BBC reported early Wednesday.

BBC reporter Alan Johnston, left, is escorted to the house of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza City on Tuesday.
(Hatem Moussa/Associated Press)

"It is the most fantastic thing to be free," Alan Johnston, 45, told the BBC by telephone shortly after he was released.

Television images showed a wan and frail Johnston leaving a building in the Gaza Strip and entering a waiting car, accompanied by armed men. He was released into the custody of Hamas officials, who seized control of the Gaza Strip three weeks ago and vowed to work for Johnston's safe return.

Hamas has not disclosed details about how it secured the release.

Johnston, speaking from the Gaza City home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, said he was OK, despite the "extraordinary" level of stress he experienced while in captivity. He said the experience was appalling and, at times, terrifying.

"I didn't know where it was going to end," he said. "I probably got out of it as well as I could have."

'Like being buried alive'

At a news conference later Wednesday, Johnston said his kidnappers did threaten his life, although he did not elaborate. He said he was chained up 24 hours at one point, and was hit in the last 30 minutes before his release.

"The last 16 weeks, of course, were just the very worst you can imagine of my life, like being buried alive, really, removed from the world," he said.

Johnston was kidnapped at gunpoint on a street near his Gaza City home on March 12.

The Army of Islam, a little-known Palestinian clan, took responsibility for the kidnapping and demanded the release of Muslim prisoners being held in British prisons in exchange for Johnston's life and freedom. The kidnappers released three videos over the course of Johnston's captivity that showed pictures of him and his belongings.

A BBC spokesman in London give details of the terms of Johnston's release, while Hamas was equally tight-lipped. The Army of Islam did not issue any statements.

Hard to imagine returning to normal life

Johnston told the BBC it's hard to imagine returning to a normal life now, though he is looking forward to being reunited with his family in Scotland.

"I literally dreamt many times of being free and always woke up back in that room," he said, referring to the room where he was held.

He said he stayed aware of efforts to free him by listening to the BBC on the radio.

In recent days, Hamas had made progress toward securing Johnston's freedom. 

On Monday, Hamas arrested the spokesman of the Army of Islam, a capture that Hamas said would provide a valuable bargaining chip.

On Tuesday, Hamas gunmen took positions around a neighbourhood in the Gaza Strip, believed to be a stronghold of the Army of Islam. Hamas said it was getting close to finding and freeing Johnston.

Leaving job in Gaza Strip

Johnston, the only Western journalist living in Gaza at the time of his capture, had been working in the turbulent region for three years. He said Wednesday he is leaving his posting.

"After many months of kidnapping, I think I need a break," he said.

His capture made international headlines.

Rallies were held around the world, including in Canada, demanding Johnston's release. More than 200,000 people signed an online petition.

With files from the Associated Press