Israel’s movement restrictions bar Palestinians from performing Hajj

Israel’s movement restrictions bar Palestinians from performing Hajj Before Israel launched its war on Gaza in 2023, which has been recognised as a genocide by the United Nations, genocide scholars and human rights groups, at least 3,000 Palestinians from Gaza travelled annually to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. 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.