AMMAN, April 4: The mayor of Bethlehem, Hanna Nasser, warned on Thursday that Israeli troops planned on storming the Church of Nativity after firing heavily on several doors, in an interview with Jordanian television.

“The Israeli troops attacked the gate that leads to the internal courtyard of the Church of the Nativity and at the gates of the Church and at the gates of the cave,” where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, Nasser said.

“They also attacked the main gate to the Church on the side controlled by the Latin Church and shot at it with heavy gunfire,” Nasser said in a telephone interview from Bethlehem.

“They are now in the courtyard of the church but they have not entered yet the church proper,” Nasser said.

He denounced Israel’s action as criminal and said the attacks on the doors of the Church of the Nativity “are a warning of what could happen and are an indication of a premeditated intention to storm the church”.

“Out of principle, this criminal attack against the Church of the Nativity ... is unacceptable and condemnable,” Nasser said, calling on the international community to save the church from any further harm.

The warden of the church, Father Ibrahim Faltas, earlier told Vatican Radio that Israeli forces were laying siege to Palestinians inside the holy shrine and had smashed down the gate leading to the basilica’s rear garden.

Israeli government spokesman Raanan Gissin has vehemently denied Israeli troops attacked the church and said they had no intention to enter the site. —AFP