The European Parliament added its voice Thursday to international calls for the release of a BBC reporter who is being held in the Gaza Strip.

Alan Johnston, 44, the only foreign correspondent based fulltime in Gaza, has not been heard of since he was abducted on March 12.

In a resolution, the parliament called for Johnston "to be immediately and unconditionally released unharmed and returned to safety."

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It pushed the Palestinian Authority to "redouble its efforts to secure Mr. Johnston's speedy release ... and to ensure that all attacks against journalists and other civilians are investigated thoroughly and those responsible brought to justice."

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said last week that intelligence services have confirmed that Johnston is alive, despite claims by a previously-unknown group to have executed the journalist.

Abbas said he knew which group was holding Johnston, but declined to give details.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said earlier this month that Johnston's captors did not have political motives but rather wanted "personal demands" met in exchange for the journalist.

Haniyeh did not offer any details about what these demands might entail and said the British government had made clear to the Palestinian Authority that it should not use force to free Johnston because that could endanger his life.