Israeli soldiers gather around Church of the Nativity, raising fears among Palestinian Christians

(The Jason Jones Show) — On the night of Sunday, January 19, 2026, Israeli military forces were observed gathering in and around Church of the Nativity and Manger Square in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, according to eyewitnesses and local sources.

Residents reported a heavy military presence, including armed patrols, vehicles, and troop concentrations in the immediate vicinity of the church complex and surrounding streets. Such deployments function as intimidation tactics, designed to exert pressure on the local Palestinian population and deter public presence or protest in one of the most symbolically and religiously significant areas of Bethlehem.

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Under international law and longstanding status-quo arrangements, military intimidation or interference around holy sites is prohibited. Nevertheless, local sources warn that any Palestinian who contests or resists these measures faces severe punishment, including arrest, physical violence, or collective reprisals by Israeli forces.

The incident has heightened fears among Bethlehem’s residents, particularly its historic Christian community, that escalating military pressure around sacred and civic spaces is part of a broader strategy to normalize coercion, restrict movement, and suppress dissent in the city.

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Reprinted with permission from The Jason Jones Show.