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Israel's Foreign Ministry issued a statement regarding restrictions on the pre-Easter Sunday service at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

It was emphasized that the decisions taken are not a religious obstruction, but a military and civilian necessity aimed at protecting public safety.

Referring to the rationale behind the security instructions, the ministry said: "All security and precautionary directives in the Old City are a direct result of Iranian missile attacks. As is known, the Iranian regime has repeatedly fired at the Old City and struck locations near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Western Wall."

The Foreign Ministry stated that the measures apply to all faith groups, adding: "In light of this situation, and in order to protect the lives of worshippers of all faiths, precautionary measures have been issued for the holy sites of all religions, and mass worship is not possible. Concern over an incident leading to mass casualties in the Old City is particularly high given the density of the area and the difficulty of deploying first responders in such an event."

At the end of the statement, it was stressed that dialogue with religious authorities would continue, saying: "The police will meet with Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and will work to find solutions that ensure as normal a routine as possible while safeguarding public safety."