Israeli Forces Seal Multiple Entrances to Bethlehem Governorate
VPP warns of escalating security issues for the the West Bank; calls on the Trump administration to defend Christians in the West Bank and block annexation
BETHLEHEM-FEBRUARY 24, 2026. Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday evening closed several strategic entry points to the Bethlehem Governorate, including the Container military checkpoint, and conducted a security operation in the nearby town of Doha, according to local security sources.
Security officials reported that Israeli personnel shut off key access routes across the governorate — affecting northern, southern, and eastern approaches — as well as entirely sealing off the Container checkpoint, located northeast of Bethlehem. The closure followed claims that a vehicle attempted a ramming attack near the Tunnel Road. In addition to these closures, Israeli forces entered the town of Doha, west of Bethlehem, though there were no reports of home raids or civilian detentions during the incursion.
The Vulnerable People Project decries the advancement of Israeli occupation forces and is again calling on President Trump to defend Christians in the West Bank. In September 2025, President Donald J. Trump said he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, “I will not allow it.” (*source, Associated Press)
“We won’t be silent as Christian towns and Palestinian civilians are choked by expanding Israeli settlements,” said Jason Jones, founder and president of the Vulnerable People Project.” Livelihoods are threatened and families have been forced to leave the land their ancestors have lived in for centuries. Our organization is asking President Trump to fulfill his promise to defend persecuted Christians and uphold his commitments before irreversible damage is done.”
This development comes amid ongoing tension and military activity in the West Bank, as authorities maintain heightened security measures across multiple governorates. Rights groups and international observers have warned that these escalations contribute to an increasingly volatile situation affecting both Palestinian civilians and broader regional stability.
The Vulnerable People Project recently launched Save West Bank Christians, a new Catholic advocacy and information platform and campaign dedicated to protecting historic Christian communities in the West Bank. VPP is the human rights organization that aims to raise international awareness about escalating threats to the ancient Christian community and its land, safety, and continued presence.
Save West Bank Christians calls on Catholics, church leaders, policymakers, and people of goodwill to learn more, share this information, and stand with vulnerable Christian communities in the Holy Land.
For more information and to sign the petition now and stand with the Christians of Bethlehem visit SaveWestBankChristians.com
PRESS CONTACT: Alexis Walkenstein, AWE PR, founder and president via walkensteina@gmail.com or 561-445-5409
ABOUT JASON JONES
Jason Jones is a film producer, author, activist, and human rights worker. He is president of Movie to Movement, the Human Rights Education Organization (H.E.R.O.) and founder of the Vulnerable People Project.
In 2006, Jones was Executive Producer of “Bella” which won several film industry awards, most notably the People’s Choice Award at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival. He was Associate Producer of the 2008 film, “The Stoning of Soraya M.” which won the Los Angeles Film Festival Audience Award in 2009 as well as the NAACP Image Award in 2009. In 2012, he was the producer of the TV Movie “Mother Marianne: Portrait of a Saint” and an Executive Producer of the new film “Voiceless.” His short films include “Eyes to See” (2010), “Crescendo” (2011) and “Sing a Little Louder” (2015). Jason produced “Divided Hearts of America” (2020) which is now streaming on Fox Nation.
Jason works directly to aid the homeless, people facing genocide, and women with crisis pregnancies. A regular contributor to the Christian News site, “The Stream,” he is the author of two books, The Race to Save Our Century and his most recent, The World is on Fire, released October 2017. He is the host of the internationally known podcast “The Jason Jones Show” available on iTunes.