Saudi Arabia Receives Palestinian Prisoners And Martyrs Families To Increase Hajj

JAKARTA - Hundreds of Palestinian families of political prisoners and martyrs who died in conflict with Israel have arrived to perform the pilgrimage as part of Saudi Arabia's Holy Mosque Two Guard Guest Program.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da'wah and Guidance received 500 pilgrims from Gaza on Monday, bringing the number of pilgrims arriving from Palestine to 1,000, quoted from Arab News June 3.

Palestinian pilgrims arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and were then accommodated in the special accommodation for the program in the holy city of Makkah.

Previously, the King of Saudi Arabia who is also the Caretaker of the Two Holy Mosques Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was reported to have issued an order to accommodate 1,000 pilgrims from the families of the martyrs, prisoners and injured victims among Palestinians to carry out this year's Hajj, quoted from the Saudi Gazette.

This is part of the Two Holy Mosque Guarding Guest Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visits, which is carried out by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da'wah and Guidance.

It is known, the Holy Mosque Guard Guest Program has hosted thousands of pilgrims and Umrah since its founding in 1996.

This year, the program will host 2,443 pilgrims from 100 countries. They began arriving in the Kingdom in May.

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Da'wah, and Guidance and General Supervisory of the program Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Sheikh said the program reflected the Kingdom's ongoing concern and commitment to the leadership of the King and Crown Prince as well as Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman who was wise to support Palestinians and strengthen the ties of Islamic brotherhood.

Separately, Palestinian Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs Mustafa Mohammad Najm last Saturday said as many as 6,600 Palestinian pilgrims would perform the pilgrimage this year, with 2,508 of them coming from Gaza and the rest from the West Bank, quoted from Tasnim.