Military Presence Around Bethlehem Holy Sites Raises Alarm
Israeli troop deployments around Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity have heightened fears of intimidation and growing pressure on the city’s Christian community.
BETHLEHEM — Israeli military forces were observed massing in and around the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square late Sunday night, January 19, raising concern among local residents and Christian leaders in Bethlehem. Eyewitnesses reported armed patrols, military vehicles, and concentrations of troops positioned near the historic church complex and adjacent streets.
Local sources said the deployment created an atmosphere of intimidation in one of the city’s most religiously and symbolically significant areas, discouraging public presence and movement. Residents warned that Palestinians who challenge or question such measures risk arrest, physical harm, or other punitive actions.
Under longstanding international agreements and status quo arrangements governing holy sites, military interference or intimidation in these areas is prohibited. Nevertheless, Bethlehem residents — particularly members of the city’s historic Christian community — expressed fear that the growing military presence reflects a broader pattern of pressure aimed at restricting movement, suppressing dissent, and normalizing coercive control around sacred and civic spaces.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Israel passed a West Bank annexation bill during Vice President JD Vance’s visit.
