THREE British hostages kidnapped in the Gaza Strip are "well and in good spirits", the Foreign Office said today.
Aid worker Kate Burton, 24, and her parents Hugh, 73, and 55-year-old Helen, known as Win, are in Jerusalem after being released by a previously-unknown Palestinian group.
They were freed soon after the group, calling itself the Mujahideen Brigades, filmed a statement read by a masked gunman standing alongside a relaxed-looking Ms Burton.
It made demands on Britain and the EU to pressure Israel and threatened more kidnappings.
Ms Burton said they had been treated well, but her parents were "tired".
The Foreign Office said: "We are pleased to confirm that Kate, Win and Hugh Burton have been released unharmed.
"They are well and in good spirits.
"They are with officials in Jerusalem who are providing them with all necessary help and care."
The statement condemned all kidnappings and thanked the Palestinian Authority and all those who had helped secure their release.
Overjoyed
The extended family of the Burtons in Britain also released a statement saying they were "overjoyed" at the news.
The family thanked the Palestinian Authority and the police, the Foreign Office and Scotland Yard.
The Burtons, from Newbury, Berkshire, were set free late yesterday. A flustered-looking Mr Burton, a retired EU official, was seen being whisked away from Gaza City in a British diplomatic vehicle.
The kidnap group issued a statement claiming it agreed to the release after assurances that Britain and the EU would work to end the Israeli "no-go" zone in northern Gaza.
British diplomats said there had been no negotiations with the kidnappers.
The hostages were abducted near the Palestinian border with Egypt on Wednesday afternoon. Ms Burton, who works at the Palestinian Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, was showing her parents around the town of Rafah.
A fluent Arabic speaker, she had been working at Al Mezan for three months and was on holiday with her parents.
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How typical: though a strident supporter of Palestinian claims against Israel, Ms Burton is kidnapped by Palestinians who would appear to have no rational grievance with her and her elderly parents. Upon her release, she covers her face to shield it from her beneficiaries. No doubt fearing for her safety from her "friends," she crosses the border and makes statements pledging her continued support of Palestinians from the safety and security of Israel. Her statements place her kidnapping into some sort of Gazan "context," which means it's Israel's fault. She will no doubt repay Israel's hospitality and sanctuary by working as hard as she can to destroy Israel: the only law abiding democracy in the Middle East, where a Briton, American, Chinese, Arab or anyone, and their elderly parents, can feel safe from harm.