look news india
Muslim pilgrims huddled in a tent in Mecca amid the scorching heat. With this, the annual pilgrimage officially began. More than 15 lakh pilgrims from all over the world have gathered in and around Mecca. This number is constantly increasing due to the inclusion of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials hope that this year the number of pilgrims will exceed 20 lakh.
Palestinians could not come for Hajj
Hajj This year the war between Israel and Palestinian extremists in the Gaza Strip has thrown the entire western region into a war. On one side Israel and its allies and on the other side Iran-backed Palestinians living in the coastal region of Gaza will not be able to travel to Mecca for Hajj this year. Because Israel has closed the Rafah crossing in the southern city bordering Egypt.
The King of Saudi Arabia invited these people
Palestinian officials said 4,200 pilgrims from the occupied West Bank had come to Mecca for the Hajj. More than a dozen families of wounded Palestinians killed in the war in Gaza also arrived at the invitation of Saudi Arabia's King Salman. A thousand invited people were already outside Gaza before the Rafah crossing was closed. Most of them were from Egypt.
Direct flights from Damascus to Mecca
This year, Syrian pilgrims made the pilgrimage to Mecca by direct flight from Damascus for the first time in more than a decade. The move comes as relations between Saudi Arabia and conflict-torn Syria strain. Syrians living in rebel-held areas previously had to travel through neighbouring Turkey to Mecca for the Hajj.
Travel affected due to corona
The annual pilgrimage has resumed as usual after three years of tight restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, more than 18 lakh pilgrims performed Hajj, which was almost equal to 2019, when more than 24 lakh people performed Hajj.