BBC journalist Alan Johnston has been speaking about his kidnap ordeal at a news conference in Jerusalem.
Mr Johnston said his ordeal was at times terrifying but he said he had not been tortured by the Army of Islam group who seized him.
The 45-year-old said it was unimaginably good to be free and he thanked those who had supported him during his ordeal.
Mr Johnston was released in Gaza early this morning having spent 114 days in captivity.
He is expected to return to Britain later today.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has paid tribute to Mr Johnston, describing him as a fearless journalist whose voice was silenced for too long.
Mr Johnston was handed over to Hamas officials in Gaza shortly before 2am Irish time this morning.
He was abducted by a militant group, calling itself the Army of Islam, on 12 March and freed after a senior Muslim cleric called for his release 'without conditions'.
It is reported that no ransom was paid.
Mr Johnston said he had twice fallen ill and spent 24 hours of his four-month ordeal in chains.
He said he had been able to listen to the radio through most of his period of captivity and was buoyed by the extraordinary level of worldwide support to free him.
He is now in the care of officials from the British Consulate in Jerusalem and will be reunited with his family as soon as possible.
BBC Director of News Helen Boden said Mr Johnston's colleagues were delighted at his release, adding that Palestinians respected him because he lived among them.
BBC employees held a rally at the television station's headquarters in London this afternoon, where Mr Johnston addressed his friends and colleagues back home, thanking them for their support during his 114 days in captivity.
He said he was 'so immensely grateful' for their support.
The BBC headquarters at Bush House was the site of weekly vigils held every Monday since Mr Johnston's capture.
The correspondent said he was looking forward to reporting the story again rather than being it.
He promised to do everything he can to stay out of trouble in the future, telling his colleagues: ' I can't bear to ask you to do all of this twice. Just imagine the embarrassment.'
BBC deputy director general Mark Byford then ordered workmen to take down the massive poster of the reporter that has been on the side of television centre since his capture.
