A portion of the Palestinian pilgrims arriving in Jericho before embarking on the trip to Jordan and then Makkah for the annual pilgrimage. (WAFA Images / Suleiman Abu Srour)

JERICHO, Saturday, July 27, 2019 (WAFA) – Around 3000 Palestinian men and women began today their trip to Makkah for the annual pilgrimage.

Over 60 buses transported the pilgrims from around the West Bank to Jericho before continuing on the road to Jordan through Al-Karama (Allenby/King Hussein) Bridge border crossing and from there to Makkah in Saudi Arabia, reported WAFA correspondent.

The Palestinian crossing authorities had announced that travel through Al-Karama Bridge would be open to the pilgrims only today and tomorrow morning, urging non-pilgrims not to make travel plans to Jordan today or tomorrow morning.

The Palestinian crossing authority said travel for West Bank Palestinians across Al-Karama Bridge will also be restricted tomorrow morning for the travelling pilgrims while normal travel for everyone else will be allowed in the afternoon. Thousands of people travel across Al-Karama Bridge every day, their only access way to the world from the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israel, which controls the crossing from the occupied West Bank side, allows only two hours for travel across the bridge to Jordan on Fridays and Saturdays, while the crossing is open until midnight for the rest of the week.

WAFA correspondent said Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh met with the pilgrims when they arrived in Jericho to check on their situation before they embarked on their trip to Makkah.

The first batch of Gaza pilgrims, amounting to 850 men and women, arrived in Makkah this morning travelling via Egypt, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs. Gazans travel through Rafah crossing with Egypt.

A total of 6600 Palestinians are expected to join the pilgrimage this year.

The main event of the pilgrimage is expected to be August 10 and 11 when Muslims around the world mark Eid al-Adha holiday.

Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh checking on the first batch of West Bank pilgrims in Jericho before traveling to Makkah, (WAFA Images)

M.K.