Hopes of Palestinian Muslims in Gaza travelling to Mecca for Hajj dashed by border closures

Israel

(23 May 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip - 21 May 2026 1. Various of displaced woman holding prayer beads while praying 2. Displaced man Soheil al-Kurdi sitting with his family inside tent 3. Various of al-Kurdi reading Quran 4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Soheil al-Kurdi, displaced Palestinian in Gaza: ++PART OVERLAID++ ”My sister and I were registered for Hajj (pilgrimage) at an agency in Khan Younis in 2023 and we received approval to travel for Hajj and