Israel Blocks Third Consecutive Year of Hajj Pilgrimage for Gaza Muslims

Here is a rewritten version of the article in a neutral newsroom style:

Thousands of Palestinians from Gaza were scheduled to participate in the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca this year, but many have been barred from traveling due to Israel’s blockade on the enclave. Hanan al-Hams, a 65-year-old resident of northern Gaza, had planned to perform the ritual for decades but was unable to do so after Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2024.

According to reports, entry and exit from Gaza were determined by Israel before the conflict began, with only patients requiring medical treatment abroad allowed to pass through the Rafah crossing. The crossing has since reopened partially, allowing passage for patients only, while other travel requirements, including pilgrimage, study, and work, remain largely impossible due to an Israeli blockade in place since 2007.

As a result, many Palestinians from Gaza have been unable to participate in the Hajj pilgrimage over the past three years. According to the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs in Gaza, more than 10,000 citizens have been prevented from performing the ritual due to the border closures. At least 71 pilgrims who had won the official draw in previous years died during the Israeli war before they could perform the ritual.

The blockade has also had a significant impact on Gaza’s religious tourism economy, with many travel companies and businesses destroyed or damaged in the conflict. A study published by the Palestinian Center for Political Studies found that the Israeli campaign against Gaza’s Hajj and Umrah sector constitutes “structural economic genocide”. The study reports that all 78 licensed travel companies in the sector have collapsed, resulting in significant losses to the local economy.

The destruction of Gaza’s Hajj and Umrah sector has also had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of thousands of people, with estimates suggesting that over 1,500 direct and indirect workers have been affected. The Palestinian Center for Political Studies argues that the repeated targeting of the sector is an intentional policy rather than accidental collateral damage, which constitutes “collective punishment” under international law.

Source: Al Jazeera