WASHINGTON – The State Department rejected on Wednesday demands by a Palestinian group for the release of all Muslim prisoners in U.S. prisons in exchange for the release of two kidnapped Fox News journalists.
"We don't make concessions to terrorists, and we continue to call for the release of these journalists without conditions," State Department press officer Gonzalo Gallegos said.
He added that the State Department had no information on the group that has claimed responsibility for kidnappings, the Holy Jihad Brigades.
He said U.S. diplomats have been in touch with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on the issue.
"We thanked President Abbas for the efforts of the Palestinian security services and police until now, and ask that President Abbas and his security services continue to do all they can to bring about their safe recovery," Gallegos said.
Fox correspondent Steve Centanni, of Washington, D.C., and cameraman Olaf Wiig, of New Zealand, were kidnapped on Aug. 14 near the Palestinian security services headquarters in Gaza City.
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