[JURIST] The kidnappers of two Fox News journalists who were abducted in Gaza City [Reuters report] on August 14 have demanded that the US release "Muslims detained in American prisons" within 72 hours in exchange for the safe release of the journalists. The self-named "Holy Jihad Brigades" faxed their demand [text] to news stations, and sent a video of the two journalists to Aljazeera TV showing both Olaf Wiig [personal website] and Steve Centanni [Fox News profile] to be healthy.

The US State Department Wednesday officially rejected the kidnappers' demands [Fox News report] and called for the release of the news crew without conditions. Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya [BBC profile], an Hamas [CFR backgrounder] member, has similarly denounced the kidnappings and demanded the immediate return of the prisoners. BBC News has more.