[[File:Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Palestine 04155u original.jpg|thumb|TheInterior interiorGereja ofKelahiran thepada basilicaera in the 1930s1930-an]]
[[File:Church of the Nativity pre-1941.jpg|thumb|FacadeMuka ofgedung theGereja Church of the NativityKelahiran (prepra-1940-1940san)]]
{{see also|SiegePengepungan ofGereja the Church of the Nativity in BethlehemKelahiran}}
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Approximately 50 armed Palestinians wanted by the [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF) took refuge in the church. Christians in the church gave refuge to the fighters, giving them food, water, and protection from Israeli military forces stationed outside. Israeli media claimed that the Christians inside were being held hostage <ref>{{Cite news |url=
