Saudi Arabia Hosts Families of Wounded or Killed Palestinians for Hajj

As part of the ‘Hosting Initiative for Pilgrims from the Families of Martyrs and the Wounded from the Gaza Strip’, King Salman of Saudi Arabia has issued a royal order to host 2,000 pilgrims whose family members in Palestine have been injured or killed. Initially, the King invited 1,000 pilgrims, but then extended his invitations to double that number.

The performative hosting is intended as a means for enabling Palestinians to cope with the hardships they currently face in Gaza. The pilgrims are expected to arrive a few days ahead of Hajj, which begins on the 8th of Dhu al-Hijjah, or June 14th.

As of June 8th, 1.3 million registered pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj.