Muslim groups seek Gaza release

Hugh and Helen Burton had been visiting their daughter

A Muslim representative from Britain is to fly to the Middle East to try to secure the release of three Britons kidnapped in Gaza.

The envoy, Ziad Aloul, of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) will travel on behalf of British Muslim and Palestinian groups, a spokesman said.

UK Muslim groups and the Palestinian Authority have condemned the kidnap of Kate Burton, 24, and her parents.

A Palestinian police chief has vowed to use force if necessary to free them.

MAB said it would send Mr Aloul to the region on Saturday, unless the family's release was secured.

Meanwhile, Palestinian police chief, Alaa Hosni, said there had been no contact with the unknown group responsible for abducting the human rights worker and her parents.

Lack of contact

British officials have told the BBC that they believe the trio are being held in southern Gaza, and think it likely they are being treated well and will be released unharmed, based on past experience.

A team of six British diplomats are in Gaza and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is planning to raise the incident with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

In a statement, signed by the MAB, along with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Palestinian Forum, Palestine Return Centre and the Palestinian Community in Britain, the groups call for Ms Burton and her parents Hugh and Helen, known as Win, who come from Newbury, Berkshire, to be released.

It read: "We fear that the kidnapping of Kate Burton - who is a well known activist in defending the human rights of the Palestinian people - and her parents will tarnish the civilised face of the Palestinian people and weaken the international support to their just cause.

"We and all those who support the Palestinian people and their right in freedom and independence reject any kidnapping in principal and reject to use the lives of innocent people in internal negotiations and to achieve internal political or economic gains in any circumstances."

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and Hamas - both responsible for suicide bombings in Israel - have also called for the release of the three captives.

In a statement, a masked fighter from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade said the kidnapping "harms the resistance effort".

Colleagues said they were worried about Ms Burton

Hamas also called for the Burtons' release, while Palestinians demonstrated to vent their anger.

"Mrs Burton, Kate's mother, has been active in the inter-faith movement in the UK and Europe for many years," said Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain.

"The family's abduction and exposure to danger is absolutely unlawful, totally unjustified and counter-productive."

No contact

With the unusual lack of contact and strong denials from the larger militant groups, there is speculation that a small group may be behind the kidnapping.

Mr Hosni, head of police in the West Bank and Gaza, said: "Up to this point there have been no negotiations with the kidnappers. We don't know who they are.

"We'll deal with the situation according to circumstances. If we're obliged to use force we will use it to release them."

The fact that she speaks Arabic and is with her parents probably comforts her a little bit Michaela Meeraus Friend Kidnaps 'not hate driven'

The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, said it was unusual for the kidnappers to have remained quiet and that the Palestinian police were working hard to trace the Burtons, who were probably still in Gaza.

He said there had been more than a dozen kidnappings since August but most were similar to those in Yemen in the late 1990s, when hostages were treated well while demands were met.

"It only went nasty if there was a big shoot-out. These comments that we've heard from the chief of police down in Gaza that they might have to resolve this by force are rattling a few people," he said.

Arabic speaker

In a statement on Thursday, the Burton family said: "We are a close family and are naturally deeply concerned about our parents and sister.

"Kate is a warm and loving person and has been working as a volunteer in Gaza for the past year trying to do what she can to help the situation there.

"We are grateful for the help and messages of support that we are receiving."

It is understood that Ms Burton, who speaks Arabic, as well as fluent French and Spanish, was showing her parents around Rafah, near the border with Egypt, when the kidnappers struck.

Michaela Meeraus, 22, from Oxford, a friend of Ms Burton's from university, told the BBC she was interested in the fate of the Palestinians.

"She is a very genuine, honest, person," Ms Meeraus said.

"The fact that she speaks Arabic and is with her parents probably comforts her a little bit."

It is understood Ms Burton had left her job with the UN in Gaza after it pulled all non-essential staff out because of the threat of kidnapping.

She continued to work in the area at the al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights as an "international co-ordinator".