MEDINA, Wednesday, June 5, 2024 (WAFA) - Minister for Religious Endowments, Mohammed Najm, stressed that the Israeli occupation's ongoing aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip and the continued closure of all border crossings have deemed it impossible for competent committees to start operating in the time necessary to arrange travel arrangements of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, thus depriving Palestinians in Gaza from performing Hajj this year.

The Minister for Religious Endowments told WAFA correspondent that it was impossible to complete the necessary procedures as a result of the occupation’s ongoing aggression on Gaza and its continued blockade of border crossings.

He noted that a request was made to the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to reallocate the quota for the Gaza pilgrims to next year.

He said that the travel arrangements of Palestinians in the northern provinces were completed, affirming the arrival of pilgrims in Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah in Saudi Arabia. He said preparations were underway regarding the travel of the ‘families of martyrs, prisoners and wounded Palestinians’ as part of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj.

T.R.