4 Palestinian Hajj delegations leave Gaza to Mecca

RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Over the past week, four batches of pilgrims departed from the Gaza Strip for Saudi Arabia to perform the rituals of Hajj.

About 6,600 people from Gaza and the West Bank left for Mecca to perform Hajj for 2023.

Aljazeera reported according to the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs of Palestine, the pilgrims travelled from Gaza during a four-day span, with 900 pilgrims in the first group, 900 on the second, 600 in the third, and 500 pilgrims on the fourth day.

Those travelling from the West Bank will get to Saudi Arabia through Jordan, while residents of the Gaza Strip went through Egypt.

The Hajj is the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, required for all adult Muslims at least once.

Every year, millions of Muslims converge in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. Palestinians, especially those in besieged Gaza, often run into obstacles and delays because of Israeli restrictions.

Under the lottery system introduced by Saudi Arabia, pilgrims are asked to apply online if they wish to perform Hajj. People are selected based on an electronic draw system.

In 2022, Saudi Arabia allowed one million pilgrims from around the world – including 850,000 foreigners.