Bethlehem/PNN /

After being chased and arrested by the occupation forces, dozens of Gaza workers in Bethlehem sought refuge in the Church of the Nativity to request protection.

Marwan Saqr, one of the workers in his fifties, told the Palestine News Network (PNN) that their options ran out today after Israeli occupation forces stormed the Phoenix Center in the refugee camp, chased them, and arbitrarily arrested dozens of them.

Saqr added that they came to the Church of the Nativity, considering it one of the holiest Christian places in Palestine and the world. They came here today seeking protection from the fear that surrounds them. He pointed out that they are workers who legally entered Israel, and when the war broke out, they were collected from their workplaces by the Israeli police and transferred to the West Bank. The Israeli authorities informed them that they would be safe.

Saqr questioned why the occupation was suddenly chasing them, pointing out that their request is simple: to provide security for them in the Church of the Nativity, as it is one of the holiest places in the world. They hope that protection and security will be provided for them.

They emphasized that the people of Bethlehem and various officials provided them with everything they needed, including clothing and food, but they cannot provide security for them, just as they cannot provide security for themselves. Therefore, this gathering in front of the church expresses their hope that the Christian clergy will not leave them alone.

They affirmed that they are ready to leave as soon as they can live safely in the West Bank or coordinate for their return to the Gaza Strip, whether to live or die with their families under bombardment.