Dubai: Gulf News reporter Abbas Al Lawati has reached Amman, Jordan and is currently at the Omani embassy arranging travel back to Muscat or Dubai.
"I'm relieved, very tired and extremely dirty. I spent a night in an Israeli prison," Al Lawati told Gulf News on the phone from Jordan on Wednesday.
He was on board the Mavi Marmara as part of the Freedom Flotilla when it was attacked by Israeli forces on Monday.
Read special coverage of Freedom Flotilla
Gulf News statement on the Israeli attack
All of his possessions were confiscated, including his passport, money, equipment and personal phone. He is now in the Crowne Plaza, Amman, with just the clothes on his back.
Gulf News lost contact with its reporter for more than 24 hours. The media organisation has expressed its relief that he is safe and is on his way back.
"We are very happy to hear from him; I spoke to him personally. He is very well and can't wait to get back to his family and friends," said Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Editor-in-Chief of Gulf News.
Abdul Hamid Ahmad also expressed thanks and appreciation for the support to get Abbas Al Lawati out of Israeli detention: the UAE and Omani governments and especially the Jordanian government and foreign ministry, which facilitated his transfer from the occupied territories to Jordan.
Gulf News would also like to thank all the people who sent their wishes and expressed their support, especially the staff of Gulf News and the people of the UAE, Oman and the Arab world.
