Saudi Arabia offers free Hajj to 1,000 Palestinian pilgrims
A thousand Palestinians who lost family members in the ongoing conflict with Israel have been invited to perform Hajj this year at the expense of Saudi King Salman bin Abdel Aziz.
The invitation has been also extended to Palestinians whose relatives were imprisoned or wounded due to Israeli strikes.
The Hajj season culminates on Arafah Day, which will fall this year either on June 5 or 6 according to the crescent moon sighting.
A comprehensive executive plan was immediately put in place to provide all necessary services and facilitation for the Palestinian pilgrims, from the moment they depart their homeland to their arrival in the kingdom, Saudi news agency said on Monday. It will be implemented by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance.
The generous gesture is part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Programme for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit.
The Israeli campaign on Gaza has devastated the Strip, pushing nearly all of its two million residents from their homes and killing more than 53,000 people, many of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Israel has blocked the entry of medical, food and fuel supplies into Gaza since the start of March to try to pressure Hamas into freeing its hostages and has approved plans that could involve seizing the entire Gaza Strip and controlling aid. International experts have warned of a looming famine.
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