On Palm Sunday, Israeli police stopped Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the Custos of the Holy Land from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. They were en route to celebrate the Palm Sunday Mass without any ceremonial display.
The Latin Patriarchate and the Custody of the Holy Land described the action as a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure. They stated this was the first time in centuries that Church leaders had been barred from the site.
An agreement was later reached allowing limited Christian groups to pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The arrangement permits ceremonies to be held and broadcast under wartime gathering restrictions.