Relative calm reigned during the day. The Franciscan friars have discussed and tried, in vain, to convince the Israeli army to grant them the possibility of receiving food supplies (foodstuffs are insufficient to feed all those present at the Nativity complex).

Another request was made to carry outside of the complex the corpse of the young palestinian who was killed when he tried to put off the fire the night before. His corpse actually lies in an area belonging to the Greeks. Neither request was granted.

At 18.20 one of the Palestinians inside the complex of the Nativity, was shot in the abdomen by an israeli sniper when he tried to cross in the open to go to the armenian area. His wounds are serious.

After the terrible experience of the intrusion by the Israeli special squad, during the night of the 8th, the israeli military reassured Fr. Ibrahim that the following night there would not have been any action. This evening, at 18.00 (Rome/Bethlehem time) the helicopters started hovering over the buildings of the Nativity and launching flares.

Meanwhile the religious community tries to continues with its ordinary life - compatible with the grave situation - the Friars celebrate the Eucharist every morning at 5.00 in the Nativity grotto, on the altar of the Catholics.

Custody Main