Israeli police block Catholic cardinal from Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday

Israeli police prevented a Catholic cardinal from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, one of Christianity's holiest days. The blockade is part of a broader closure of Jerusalem's holy sites that Israeli authorities have implemented citing security concerns following escalated tensions with Iran. The restriction prevents Christian leaders from conducting traditional Palm Sunday ceremonies at one of the faith's most sacred locations, disrupting centuries-old religious observances. Access limitations to religious sites have heightened tensions with Christian communities in Jerusalem, who view the closures as unprecedented interference with their worship. The incident underscores the security climate affecting religious practice in the contested city.