JEDDAH: A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denied allegations by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas that Saudi Arabia refused Haj visas to pilgrims from Gaza.
“We treat all Palestinians equally,” the spokesman said. He dismissed the allegation by a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council as false and said Saudi authorities issued Haj visas for thousands of Palestinians from all occupied Arab territories, including Gaza.
“We have issued the visas to the Palestinian Authority and have even increased the number of Haj visas for Palestinians considering their situation,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the Foreign Ministry official as saying.
“All of the Kingdom’s entry points are ready to welcome Palestinian pilgrims who will be given all facilities to perform their Haj rituals comfortably,” the official said, adding that such false statements are not in the interests of the Palestinian people.
Saudi authorities have granted visas to some 3,000 Gazans who registered for Haj through the Palestinian Authority.
In remarks posted on the Hamas website on Saturday, Atef Edwan said Riyadh had allowed visas to thousands of people registered with the Palestinian Authority but not the 2,200 in the Israeli-blockaded Gaza who applied through Hamas.
