Israel reportedly moves on Bethlehem church
The Israeli army has reportedly begun an offensive against the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where more than 200 Palestinian police and gunmen have been hiding along with priests and civilians since Tuesday.
Armed Palestinians inside the church said Israeli soldiers blew open a small back door of the church and opened fire inside, but the Israeli military denied the claim. Mazen Hassan, a policeman inside the building, told the Associated Press by telephone that the Palestinians were not returning fire.
Lieutenant Colonel Olivier Rafowicz, a spokesman for the Israeli army, said soliders did not make any move on the church and had no intention of doing so.
At around 3am today, the army used loudspeakers to urge those inside the building to surrender, but nobody answered the call.
An Italian reporter who was trapped in the church until yesterday said the Palestinians are prepared to fight to the death.
The stand-off began on Tuesday when the gunmen took refuge in the church after Israeli soldiers invaded Bethlehem with tanks and helicopters.
Priests trapped inside have been appealing to the international community for help.
