Israeli troops fired tear gas and concussion grenades on Sunday midday at a Mass held by residents of Beit Sahour city, southern West Bank. Residents from Beit Sahour along with international supporters gathered at the evacuated military base of Ush Grhab east of the city. People held banners demanding the halt of the Israeli renewed work at the site and called for the end of settlement activity around their city.

The priest’s words, delivered as the army was attacking, was to plead to God to teach us to live in dignity based on morality and speak out for what is right (gatherers then gave the Lord’s prayer together). Despite the unusual circumstances, the Christians persisted and succeeded in holding ground.

Notable footage: Issa, which is Arabic for Jesus, holding his child in his arms while kicking the teargas canister. His other child had started crying with the noise of a concussion grenade.