Christmas in Bethlehem (Archive photo)
Photo: AP
Gunmen storm Bethlehem's city hall
About two dozen gunmen briefly seize Bethlehem's city hall, located near Church of the Nativity, demanding jobs in Palestinian security forces
About two dozen gunmen on Tuesday briefly seized Bethlehem's city hall on Manger
Square and near the Church of the Nativity, demanding jobs in the Palestinian security forces.
Hundreds of Palestinian police and onlookers rushed to Manger Square after the gunmen appeared on the roof of city hall, pointing their weapons toward the crowd.
Police sealed the streets leading to Manger Square.
After about an hour, the gunmen, who have ties to the ruling Fatah movement, met with the governor of Bethlehem and then walked out of the building. It was not immediately
clear how the standoff was resolved.
The incident took place just four days before Christmas, and city officials fear the incident would hinder holiday preparations and the celebrations themselves.
Khan Yunis: Gunmen kidnap 2 people
The Church of the Nativity, one of Christianity's holiest shrines, stands over the grotto where tradition says Jesus was born.
The taking over of public buildings is commonplace in the PA, mainly in Gaza.
Earlier on Tuesday dozens of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades members raided the Fatah offices in Khan Yunis while firing into the air in and outside the building.
It is estimated that the reason behind the raid involves the dispute over the results of the preliminary Fatah elections.
In another Khan Yunis incident, gunmen kidnapped two people for unknown reasons and drove off with them to an unknown destination.
Associated Press contributed to the report
