Gaza: For the third consecutive year since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation continues to prevent Gaza Strip pilgrims from performing the Hajj due to the complete closure of border crossings. The Rafah land port, the primary gateway for pilgrims traveling to Egypt and onward to Saudi Arabia, operates only partially under strict Israeli restrictions and security complications, halting travel from Gaza.
According to Qatar News Agency, Gaza's annual quota stands at 2,500 pilgrims out of Palestine's total 6,600 allocation chosen by public lottery. However, the ongoing war and tight military blockade prevent thousands from fulfilling their religious duty. Director of Endowments Ministry in Gaza Amir Abu Al Amrin stated that nearly 10,000 Palestinians remain barred despite completing procedures years ago. He clarified that out of 2,473 selected since 2013, 71 passed away while waiting, leaving 2,402 prospective pilgrims currently denied travel.
Abu Al Amrin condemned the ban as a violation of freedom of worship, urging global Islamic institutions to intervene. Meanwhile, head of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Travel Agencies Mohammad Al Astal noted that local and regional efforts failed to secure safe passage or compel Israel to ease restrictions at the Rafah crossing. Al Astal added that thousands who won the lottery as far back as 2013 faced collective punishment, crushing hopes of moving Gaza from despair toward hope through the sacred pilgrimage.
On the humanitarian front, Qatar News Agency documented testimonies of severe deprivation. Abdul Hamid Hassan, selected in 2024 after waiting since 2021, expressed deep sorrow over the border closures amidst siege and famine. Hassan lamented watching pilgrims from the West Bank and Arab nations perform the rituals, noting that appeals to open routes for the elderly went unanswered. Similarly, Mohammad Abdel Rahman expressed grief over the conflict obstructing his journey, sharing his longing to experience the pilgrimage firsthand rather than just hearing about it. He urged international solidarity to ease the psychological burden of the war.
While Palestinian pilgrim cohorts from the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the 1948 territories arrived in Medina and Mecca last week, not a single pilgrim from Gaza has been able to travel.