Kidnapped FOX News journalists Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig have been released unharmed.

Two Fox News journalists were released Sunday, nearly two weeks after being seized by militants, ending the longest-running drama involving foreign hostages in the Gaza Strip. American correspondent Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig of New Zealand were dropped off at Gaza City’s Beach Hotel, hours after appearing in a video released by their captors. The footage of them in captivity showed both men dressed in beige Arab-style robes, and the kidnappers claimed the journalists had converted to Islam.

They were both in Western-style clothing as they arrived at the hotel, quickly walking through the lobby. A tearful Centanni briefly embraced a Palestinian journalist, and Wiig turned and appeared to yell at Palestinian security guards before they headed upstairs.

Great news indeed.

I was unfamiliar with Wiig before the kidnapping but am willing to wager quite a large sum that Centanni has not converted to Islam.

UPDATE: More from FOX News:

Centanni, in a phone interview shortly after his release, said “I’m fine. I’m just so happy to be free.” He said he was so emotional because he was out and alive. “There were times when I thought ‘I’m dead,’ and I’m not,” Centanni said. “I’m fine. I’m so very happy.”

He recounted how he and Wiig were pulled out of their car on August 14 and taken at gunpoint into another car. The kidnappers blindfolded them and handcuffed their hands behind their backs with plastic ties. They were then transferred to another car and driven to a building that they later learned was a garage. “We were pushed down onto the dirt-covered concrete floor and we were forced to life face down with our handcuffs on,” Centanni said. “Olaf was in the same room with me. Our shoulders were wrenched back, very painful.”

Both of the men were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint, Centanni said.

Centanni’s brother, Ken, spoke to FOX News directly after the news was released. “It’s just a tremendous amount of relief, overwhelming relief,” he said.

Some emotional expression is permitted on such occasions, methinks.

Incredibly, to watch the FOX video feed of this story requires sitting through an 18 second ad for a stock trading company beforehand. That seems a wee bit inappropriate under the circumstances.

Rusty Shackleford has strong reason to believe that the group behind the kidnapping of Fox News journalists Steve Centanni and Olaf Wigg are an “al Qaeda 3.0″ group that sees Abu Musab al Zarqawi as a source for inspiration. Given that Zarqawi got on the map by personally beheading hostages on videotape, that’s bad news indeed.

A Palestinian terrorist group called Holy Jihad Brigades have released a video of kidnapped FOX News journalists Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig.

A previously unheard of Palestinian group released video footage on Wednesday showing two kidnapped FOX News journalists and demanded Muslim prisoners in U.S. jails be released within 72 hours in exchange for the men, a Palestinian news agency reported.

In the footage, American correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, of New Zealand, said they were being cared for and appealed for help in winning their release. The footage was the first sign of the journalists since they were kidnapped Aug. 14 from their TV van in Gaza City. “Our captors are treating us well,” Centanni said.

The statement issued by the Holy Jihad Brigades marked the first time a Palestinian group in Gaza made demands on a foreign country other than Israel. Militant groups have routinely tried to limit the conflict to a fight between Palestinians and Israel. Although Palestinian militant groups have often seized foreigners, including members of the media, this is the longest any have been held. In the video footage, the men, sitting cross-legged on the floor in sweat suits, appear to be in good health.

No armed men were seen.

Well, at least we know they’re probably still alive.

Hat tip: Andrew Cochran

Meanwhile, Cori Dauber notes how differently the media are handling this story vice the kidnappings of non-journalists.

FOX News’ Steve Centanni

Via Breitbart/AP:

Palestinian gunmen ambushed a car carrying a Fox News crew in Gaza City on Monday and kidnapped two of the journalists inside, according to witnesses and Fox. “We can confirm that two of our people were taken against their will in Gaza,” Fox News said in a statement.

A Fox employee in Gaza, who declined to give his name because he was not authorized to release information about the incident, said the two kidnapped people were reporter Steve Centanni, a U.S. citizen, and a cameraman from New Zealand.

The men, along with a bodyguard, were parked near the headquarters of the Palestinian security services when two trucks filled with gunmen pulled up and boxed them in, according to the employee. The gunmen took the two out of their sports utility vehicle, which was marked “TV,” and drove away, he said.

Major militant groups in Gaza denied having any connection to the abduction, and there was no immediate word of any demands made.

Security officials put police across Gaza on alert to find the gunmen and free the journalists, said Interior Ministry spokesman Khaled Abu Hilal.

“This is not acceptable at all,” he said.

Several foreigners have been kidnapped in Gaza in recent months with their abductors demanding jobs from the Palestinian Authority or the release of people being held in Palestinian jails. All those kidnapped have been released within hours without harm.

One can only hope that Centanni and his cameraman are as lucky as all the others that have been kidnapped. In the meantime, keep them in your prayers.

UPDATE: Mary Katharine Ham, guest-blogging for Michelle Malkin, has lots on the situation here including the cameraman’s name: Olaf Wiig.

Meanwhile, the DUers have a thread up. Here’s a filthy taste:

The full thread is here if you feel like being disgusted further.