Israel blocks 2,500 Palestinians in Gaza from Hajj
Israel’s control of Rafah’s border crossing has prevented approximately 2,500 Palestinians from departing Gaza for this year’s Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, The New Arab and agencies reported on June 14th.
The pilgrimage is a key rite of Islam, of which all Muslims who are able to must perform at least once in a lifetime. Pilgrims from Gaza make up roughly a third of the total Palestinian pilgrims attending Hajj this year.
On May 7th, the Israeli military seized and closed the border crossing following an overnight assault on the besieged territory. The crossing served as the main entry point for humanitarian aid going to Gaza since October.
Gaza’s Ministry of Endowments was destroyed by Israel, the body’s spokesperson Ikrami Al-Mudallal said, which has had a dramatic impact on its ability to facilitate the passage of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. He called it a “clear violation of religious freedom.”
Al-Mudallal noted that pilgrims affected by the border closure would be given priority next year — though many wait up to 10 years for their turn to attend Hajj.
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Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz announced that his country would host 500 pilgrims from the families of those killed and wounded in Gaza, though this privilege was reserved for Gazans who had managed to leave the enclave.
On June 6th, bin Abdulaziz then ordered the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs’ Hajj and Umrah Guest Programme to host 1,000 pilgrims from the families of Gaza’s killed and wounded, selected from those who had fled Gaza due to the war or in search of medical treatment.
The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments reported 2,000 men and women travelled to Jordan on 69 buses, with another 1,200 flying to the kingdom. The organisation condemned Israel for its continued aggression against Gaza — especially in reference to the escalation of attacks in Rafah and occupation of its border crossing.
Al-Mudallal alleged that the ministry asked Egypt and Saudi Arabia to pressure Israel into opening the border crossing to allow Gazans to perform Hajj.
The New Arab and agencies
