An estimated 5,500 Palestinians pilgrims will perform Haj this year, according to Palestinian Ambassador Imad Shaath.
Shaath told Arab News that the first group consisting of 500 people will arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Nov. 1.
Pilgrims typically arrive from Palestine in two groups. The first group — about 40 percent of the total number of pilgrims – arrives by air from the Gaza Strip via Egypt. The remaining 60 percent arrives by land via Jordan.
Shaath said that Palestinian pilgrims are well received and accommodated, and in general, do not face any problems during the performance of the pilgrimage.
The Kingdom provides all the amenities and services they may need.
This is the case for pilgrims from everywhere, Shaath said, not just Palestine.
However, for those Palestinian pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom by land, some challenges emerge during the process of entering the Kingdom. The problems are border issues, not problems within the Kingdom, he said.
Referring to the recent development projects aimed at increasing the capacity of the two holy mosques, Saath pointed out that he personally witnessed the big difference during this year and last year in his performance of Umrah in Ramadan, stressing that this expansion is ultimately very useful in accommodating the largest number of pilgrims during this year’s pilgrimage.
5,500 Palestinians expected for Haj
