The start of Johnston's ninth week in captivity came with reports in a Palestinian newspaper that Johnston's kidnappers had set three requirements for his release. They demanded a plot of land, a $5 million ransom, and the release of Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi, imprisoned in Jordan for attempting to carry out a suicide bombing in the 2005 Amman bombings. However, the reports also noted that negotiations for his release remained difficult and that he would not likely be released soon.