Gaza Strip ? With a 72-hour deadline approaching, a senior Palestinian security official said Friday he saw the “first promising signs” in efforts to free two Fox journalists who were abducted in Gaza nearly two weeks ago.

The comments by Interior Minister Said Siyam of Hamas marked the first upbeat assessment by Palestinian officials since Fox correspondent Steve Centanni, of Washington, D.C., and cameraman Olaf Wiig, of New Zealand, were seized from their TV van in Gaza City on Aug. 14.

He said the contacts were made with major militant groups, all of whom denied kidnapping the journalists or knowing where they were being held.

“There are first promising signs,” he said, but did not elaborate.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said winning their release is at the top of his agenda. “I have appealed to the kidnappers not to harm the journalists and to release them immediately,” he added.