Hamas blames PA officials for interfering in British hostage case and alleged that officials from the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah coaxed British hostage kidnappers not to release him. "We have monitored calls coming from Ramallah telling the kidnappers not to release the hostage, so Hamas won't get credit for it," Abu Zahri claimed.
http://tinyurl.com/2fudlp

Hamas: Kidnappers of BBC reporter afraid to release him
Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar has been overseeing negotiations between the militant group and The Army of Islam, which claims to hold BBC correspondent Alan Johnston. But after Hamas took over the Gaza Strip last week and has vowed to crack down on anarchy, the shadowy hard-line group that is believed to have some links to Hamas now fears it will be targeted if it releases Johnston. Hamas is still trying to convince the clan associated with the group that they would not be killed if they hand over Johnston, even providing written guarantees, Zahar said. But the clan also fears other tribes will attack them, he said.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/874125.html

The petition states:

"We, the undersigned, demand the immediate release of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. We ask that everyone with influence on this situation increase their efforts to ensure that Alan is freed quickly and unharmed."