Israel’s border restrictions bar Gazans from performing Hajj

Israel’s border restrictions bar Gazans from performing Hajj Before Israel launched its genocidal war in 2023, at least 3,000 Palestinians from Gaza travelled annually to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. Although Israel partially reopened the Rafah crossing with Egypt in February under a US-brokered ceasefire, only a few hundred people, mainly patients and limited escorts, have been allowed to leave Gaza each week. “The border crossing is closed.