Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

Members of the Palestinian Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade guard the entrance of the church against a possible nighttime attack. Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

People sleep in blankets discovered in a hotel linked to the church comple. Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

For many days there was little or nothing to eat in the church. Men fried greens picked from a courtyard. Candles were used for light and heat. Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

Najee Abu Abed holds the hand of Allah Barakat, a Palestinian police officer who became ill from lack of food during the siege. Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

A Palestinian man who was shot by an Israeli sniper. Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

Facing Mecca instead of the altar, Muslim men bow in prayer. Although this was against church rules, the Christian priests gave permission for daily prayers. Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

Palestinians crouch in the Door of Humility, the entrance to the church. Israeli military forces occupied the city of Bethlehem on April 2, as part of Operation Defensive Shield. Palestinian militants, civilians and Palestinian police officers, sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the spot revered by Christians as the birthplace of Christ. The militants included men accused by Israel of direct involvement with terrorism, and a stand-off ensued which lasted for 39 days. Israeli snipers shot and killed eight men inside the compound before a settlement was reached in which 13 militants were exiled to Europe and 26 others were sent to the Gaza strip. The remaining people were freed.

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