Israel has prevented Muslims in Gaza from travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj for the third consecutive year, according to Palestinian officials and humanitarian organisations.
Before the war, thousands of Palestinians from Gaza travelled annually to perform the pilgrimage in Makkah, one of the five pillars of Islam. But ongoing border closures, widespread destruction and restrictions on movement have left Gaza residents unable to leave the territory for Hajj since 2023.
Palestinian authorities said many Gazans had already completed registration procedures and hoped to travel this year, but no departures were permitted. Families in Gaza described deep disappointment at being denied what for many is considered a once-in-a-lifetime act of worship.
The Hajj pilgrimage gathers millions of Muslims from around the world each year in Saudi Arabia. Muslims who are physically and financially able are required to perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime.
Officials in Gaza said the continued restrictions reflect the wider humanitarian crisis facing the territory, where civilians continue to suffer from displacement, food shortages, destroyed infrastructure and limited access to medical care after months of war.
Human rights advocates and Palestinian groups criticised the restrictions, arguing that preventing civilians from fulfilling a major religious obligation adds further suffering to Gaza’s population during an already devastating humanitarian crisis. The restrictions come as Muslims around the world prepare for Hajj and Eid al-Adha.
