Negotiators regarding the stalemate at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem have apparently reached an agreement under which Israel will end its siege of the church. Sources close to the discussions say that it is expected that most of the 123 Palestinians who have been holed up in the church since April 2 will soon leave the church. Israeli forces on Wednesday preemptively collected floodlights and surveillance equipment from around the church in anticipation of the resolution of the stalemate. According to the terms of the agreement, civilians stationed in the church will be released. However, 26 Palestinian militants will be sent for trial in Palestinian courts in the Gaza Strip. Another 13 militants, whom Israel considers 'known terrorists', will remain in the church until a foreign country accepts them. Italy, Spain, and Jordan have all rejected requests to accept these 13 individuals.
Agreement on the Stalemate at the Church of the Nativity - 2002-05-09
Negotiators have reached an agreement to end the Israeli siege of the Church of the Nativity, allowing most of the 123 Palestinians inside to leave. While civilians will be freed, 26 militants will face trial in Gaza, and 13 others labeled as 'terrorists' will remain until a foreign country accepts them. This situation reflects ongoing tensions and the complexities of international diplomacy in the region.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Negotiators have reached an agreement to end the Israeli siege of the Church of the Nativity, allowing most of the 123 Palestinians inside to leave. Civilians will be freed, while some militants will face trial, and others will remain until a foreign country accepts them.
- 123 Palestinians were holed up in the Church of the Nativity since April 2.
- 26 militants will be tried in Gaza, while 13 known terrorists will stay until a foreign country accepts them.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Church of the Nativity siege occurred during the Second Intifada, a period marked by heightened violence between Israelis and Palestinians. The church is a symbol of Christian heritage and a contested site in the conflict.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%