http://www.washtimes.com/world/20020515-89391238.htm
A church helper, who gave his name as Milad, said the quantity of food consumed by the gunmen in the first 15 days should have lasted for six months. As they feasted and boozed, Palestinian civilians subsisted on a meager diet, with barely enough for a single meal a day. ... The Orthodox priests and a number of civilians have said the gunmen created a regime of fear. "Their word was law," said one civilian, "and they told us civilians who left the church would either be shot by the Israelis or dealt with later by the gunmen's comrades." --- Sounds like they were held as hostages to me.
