Twenty-six people filed out of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Tuesday, the largest group to leave in a four-week-long Israeli siege of Palestinian fighters taking refuge in the shrine.
Witnesses saw the people walk out of the church in single file and present their identity papers to Israeli soldiers.
Emerging from the church, most of the youths in the group refused to take cake, apples and water offered by Israeli soldiers. Half of the group were members of the Palestinian security forces and the rest civilians, including youths.
According to AP, twenty-four of those who left the church boarded an Israeli armored bus. A top Palestinian security officer was taken away separately by the Israeli army. Another man was evacuated for medical treatment.
Israeli troops have besieged the church since April 2, after 30 Palestinian fighters stormed in to hide from soldiers who reoccupied Bethlehem.
The departure of the men marked progress between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators who have failed to narrow sharp differences and resolve the standoff at the church.
Dozens of Palestinian police, Christian clerics and other civilians are trapped in the shrine, where food and water are said to be in short supply.
Israel has demanded the wanted gunmen, who it blames for suicide bombings and shootings, surrender for trial in Israel or exile. Palestinians want them to be given safe passage to Gaza.
European Union Middle East envoy Miguel Angel Moratinos met Palestinian lawmaker and member of a five-man Palestinian negotiating team, Salah Taamari, and was expected to also hold talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, Taamari said.
"We hope that things will move forward in a short while as he promised," said Taamari. (Albawaba.com)
