[2024-06-06T00:16:32,277][ERROR][o.e.b.Elasticsearch ] [server.domain.co.uk] fatal exception while booting Elasticsearch java.lang.NullPointerException: Cannot invoke "org.elasticsearch.nativeaccess.Systemd.notify_ready()" because "this.systemd" is

Same here, in my case there were additional directories I was getting AccessDeniedException errors, so I had to do:

setfacl -m u:elasticsearch:rx /usr/lib64/mysql/plugin/auth_pam_tool_dir
setfacl -m u:elasticsearch:rx /usr/lib64/redis
setfacl -m u:elasticsearch:rx /usr/lib64/redis/modules
setfacl -m u:elasticsearch:rx /usr/lib/Acronis/AgentCommData