For third year in a row, Israel blocks Hajj pilgrimage for Gaza Muslims
For the third consecutive year, Israel has blocked Gaza Muslims from participating in the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Many Palestinians, including Hanan al-Hams, have had their dreams shattered due to the ongoing conflict and border restrictions. The situation has resulted in significant economic losses for Gaza's religious tourism sector, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
- ▪Hanan al-Hams was among 3,000 Palestinians selected to perform Hajj in 2024, but the ongoing war has prevented her from traveling.
- ▪Over 10,000 citizens have been barred from performing Hajj in the last three years due to the closure of the Rafah crossing.
- ▪A study describes the Israeli campaign against Gaza's Hajj sector as a 'structural economic genocide', leading to the collapse of all licensed travel companies.
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News|Civil RightsFor third year in a row, Israel blocks Hajj pilgrimage for Gaza MuslimsAs millions of Muslims gather in Mecca, Palestinians in Gaza face a third year of heartbreak as Israel has shut the border.ListenListen (5 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoHanan al-Hams, 65, sits in a makeshift tent pitched over the ruins of her home in northern Gaza. She was selected to perform Hajj in 2024 before the Israeli war shattered her lifelong dream [Al Jazeera]By Al Jazeera StaffPublished On 24 May 202624 May 2026Hanan al-Hams was among the 3,000 Palestinians from Gaza scheduled to travel for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in 2024.
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