Is Alan Johnston's release a win for Hamas?

Some say 'Yes', others say 'No', and plenty of others say 'Maybe'.
BBC News has some analysis. This post for background.

America and Israel have announced that even Hamas' help in releasing BBC reporter Johnston does not change a thing in their spiteful relationship with the militant group slash Palestinian political party. Of course let's face reality: no matter what Hamas does they'll hate it, and vice versa.

As my vacation in Michigan nears its end, I won't be online much tomorrow. By Sunday, and definitely by Monday I will return to my usual posting schedule, if not with more posts.

Johnston released

Ending one of the most watched journalist kidnapping cases in the Middle East, the BBC's Alan Johnston has just been freed after pressure from militant group/political party Hamas on his renegade captors. Johnston had been held for nearly four long months. He served as BBC New's Gaza correspondent; the BBC is the only international news organization with a bureau in Gaza.

More on Gaza and Palestine

Abbas' new emergency government may have legitimacy in the eyes of outside powers, but what about with the people? Abbas needs to balance foreign support with not looking like a puppet of the west, which would only empower Hamas further.

On a different note, for all its malevolence (e.g. using terrorism, dismantling Gaza), Hamas can sometimes look OK, especially in the case of treating journalists fairly. The last thing a political organization wants is to look bad to the world.

Hamas has issued an ultimatum for the Palestinian group holding BBC reporter Alan Johnston or else it has said it will use force to free the reporter, who has been held for quite some while. Governments reacted with alarm, stating how this situation is a delicate one. At least Hamas isn't encouraging the killing of the journalist, right?