Israel has barred Catholic officials from privately praying at a historic Jerusalem church for the first time in centuries due to security concerns related to the Iran-led war. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Father Francesco Ielpo were stopped by Israeli police as they made their way to the church for private prayer. The incident sparked outrage among Catholic officials, who were already told they could not hold Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday. While Huckabee argued that large gatherings should be put on hold due to Iran's retaliatory bombardments, he also criticised the Israeli police's decision to prevent the clergymen from making their own private visit to the historic church. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Pizaballa after the incident to apologize and express his "great sorrow".