GAZA CITY (CNN) -- An Associated Press photographer abducted in Gaza earlier Tuesday has been freed, Palestinian security and political sources told CNN Tuesday night.
The AP and a Spanish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman identified the photographer as 37-year-old Emilio Morenatti.
The AP reported that Morenatti was kidnapped as he was leaving his temporary apartment in Gaza and heading toward a car where an AP driver and translator was waiting.
The translator, Majed Hamdan, told the AP that four gunmen grabbed Morenatti's keys and cell phone and told him to turn away, pressing a gun to his head and threatening "to harm him if he moved."
They shoved Morenatti into a white Volkswagen and drove off, the AP said.
After his release, Morenatti was taken by Fatah officials to the office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the AP reported. It said Morenatti reported he was tired but unharmed.
The AP said Morenatti is from Jerez, Spain, and has been working for the news agency in Jerusalem since April 2005. He periodically makes trips to the Palestinian territories.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos had "gotten personally involved" to try to find out what happened and will use his contacts in the Middle East -- where he has worked or visited for years as a diplomat.
Before the reports of Morenatti's release, AP president and chief executive officer Tom Curley issued a statement on the kidnapping from New York, according to AP:
"The Associated Press is working to find out just what happened to Emilio. We are in contact with Palestinian officials and leaders to learn more, and to try and obtain his release. Our main concern now, however, is for his safety.
"Emilio has spent his career representing the values that AP stands for -- truthful, accurate journalism that tells all sides of the story. It is a sad development when the men and women the world rely on to bring them objective news are subject to such dangers. No cause or motive can justify such senseless action."
Palestinian militants have kidnapped foreign journalists before. Most recently, two Fox journalists were held for two weeks in August before being released.
