By DPA
London : Alan Johnston, the journalist freed this week by kidnappers in Gaza City, was finally reunited with his family in the Scottish county of Argyll, the BBC reported.
Johnston, 45, had flown to London from Tel Aviv, arriving at Heathrow airport at 12.30 p.m. (1130 GMT). The BBC's Gaza correspondent then continued his journey to Scotland Saturday evening.
Johnston was visibly moved when he was welcomed by his family at Lochgoil in Argyll. His voice seemed to be shaking and he was struggling with tears when he spoke in front of television cameras at his parents' home.
"It is hard to believe that only four days ago I was in that cell (in Gaza)," Johnston said.
He thanked his family but also the public, his friends and colleagues for their support.
"I'm going to be grateful for that support all my life," Johnston said.
He now intended to spend some quiet time with his family and have a couple of months rest before returning to work, the journalist told television crews.
However, neither he nor his employers at the BBC had yet made up their minds on what he would be doing, Johnston said. He had earlier said he would not be returning to Gaza in the near future.
Johnston was held by Army of Islam militants in Gaza for nearly four months. He was released Wednesday into the hands of the Islamic militant movement Hamas.