Siege of the Church of the Nativity

Siege of the Church of the Nativity
Part of Operation Defensive Shield
Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem during the operation
Date 2 April – 10 May 2002 Location Bethlehem, West Bank Result Negotiated Palestinian retreat
Belligerents
Israel	Fatah (Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Tanzim) Palestinian Security Forces Hamas
Strength
1 reserve infantry brigade[1]	39[2]
Casualties and losses
2 wounded	8 killed[3]
1 Armenian monk wounded [3]

From 2 April to 10 May 2002, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the West Bank was besieged by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), targeting suspected Palestinian militants who had taken shelter in the church.

As part of Operation Defensive Shield, the IDF occupied Bethlehem and attempted to capture suspected Palestinian militants.^[4] Dozens of them fled into the Church of the Nativity and sought refuge. IDF surrounded the site and besieged the suspected militants and non-militants at the site, which included approximately 200 monks resident in the church and other Palestinians who had arrived at the site for other reasons. The Franciscan Order maintained no hostages were held, while Israeli sources claimed the monks and others were being held hostage by gunmen.^[5]

After 39 days, an agreement was reached, according to which the militants turned themselves in to Israel and were exiled to Europe and the Gaza Strip.