Seige Survivors Ride Into Gaza

May 11, 2002
By David Blair in Gaza City

THE 38-day siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem ended yesterday when 13 Palestinians described by Israel as "senior terrorists" were flown to Cyprus, from where they will be sent on to several European countries.

In exchange for their exile, Israel allowed 84 civilians, policemen and activists to walk free. A further 26 militants were also freed, and rode triumphantly into Gaza yesterday to bursts of celebratory gunfire.

The bearded men, many wearing military fatigues and headbands, claimed "victory" over Israel and pledged to "continue the struggle".

Most of the gunmen were drawn from the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, a group closely linked to Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement. All were released under the agreement reached with the Israeli army to end the siege of the church.

With heavily armed Israeli soldiers ringing Manger Square and camera crews from around the world looking on, the militants had emerged looking haggard and tired.

Some strode defiantly past the troops; one was carried out on a stretcher; another knelt and kissed the ancient stones outside the church.

Thirteen of the most senior militants were flown to Cyprus by an RAF Hercules, the first stop in an exile that will take them to other countries under a deal brokered by Europe. They face exile but will not be charged.

Israel agreed to release the remaining 26 into the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip.

After leaving the church, they boarded a coach and were driven to the Erez checkpoint at the frontier with Gaza.

At 11.15am, they walked across the heavily fortified border into Gaza, where a dozen Palestinian policemen, armed with AK-47 assault rifles and wearing blue camouflage, greeted them.

"We are receiving them with honour," Col Salim Darduna, the chief military liaison officer for the northern Gaza Strip, said.

"They are freedom fighters and they will be placed in the best hotels of Gaza City. There will be no monitors, there will be no jailers, they will be free in their homeland, whether Gaza or the West Bank."

Suleiman Mahmoud Abdallah, 39, an al-Aqsa Brigade fighter, was the first to appear. He wore green military fatigues and a broad smile. "I'm free, I'm in my homeland," he said.

Nadir Abu Hamida, 26, also from the al-Aqsa Brigade, was the next to set foot in Gaza. Wearing a camouflage jacket and a checked keffiyeh, or head-dress, draped around his shoulders, he said: "We're going to continue the struggle against the Israeli occupation. We're victorious because all of us are free and we are in our homeland."

Asked what he would do if the Israeli army launched an attack on Gaza in retaliation for Tuesday's suicide bombing, Mr Hamida said: "We will resist them. Sharon is a criminal."

http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/05/11/wmid11.xml&sSheet
=/news/2002/05/11/ixnewstop.html