You say a hundred years ago (I think it might have been further back than that---maybe 1502---but OK for argument's sake let's say 1902) Christians would have been willing to die to save the church. I think the difference today is that public opinion is ruling the situation, and hostage taking is used to force good willed governments to grant concessions. (Dictatorships just rush in and kill everyone and care nothing for the consequences.)
If it were up to me, I would have pumped in sodium pentethal to put everyone to sleep, then gone in and ejected the human debris that took over the church. As it is, the priests and nuns seem to be in sympathy with the hostage-takers (they are all "Palestinians," whatever that is) and are also determined to stay to protect the church. The Israelis are already hated by the world and causing the hostage takers to kill their hostages by attacking the church would generate more hate. It's a no-win situation for the Israelis.
I suggest if you are a Christian (and I believe you are by your passion about this) you should pray for the safety of the true Christians, for wisdom for the leaders on the ground, and for preservation of the church structure. We can always fix the damage to the church.
Unfortunately the news came out that there may be upwards of 50 children held in the basement by the gunmen. Since gas tends to settle, I would imagine a dose strong enough to knock out a terrorist would be in deadly concentration in a basement. No problem, Jews are patient, very patient. -grin-
Though there are many instances where God, Jesus, and the prophets have teached reverance in Church and Holy Shrines, I cannot recall anywhere in the bible where God actually gave great import to the structure? How may times has the Temple on the mount been destroyed? Man has oftem made the shrines to be more important than God, but God has never made them more important than man!