Israel may allows Palestinian elders to perform Hajj, but can they afford the costs of this adventurous journey?

By Mohammed Yassin, IOL Palestine Correspondent

GAZA CITY, January 21 (IslamOnline) - Death, poverty and illness might prevent the world Muslims from doing Hajj (Pilgrimage), but for the Palestinians add oppressive practices of the Israeli occupation forces as another hindering element to the holy journey to perform the fifth pillar of Islam.

The occupation forces prevent all people under 35 years old from leaving for the pilgrimage, in addition to blocking the movement of several others at checkpoints and detain many of them.

Abu Moaz, 37, said he would not leave his place in Gaza city for pilgrimage, in fear of being detained by Israeli occupation forces at checkpoints.

Abu Moaz, who declined to give his full name for security reasons, was arrested by Israeli forces in the first 1987-1994 Intifada.

“But there are contacts with the Israeli side to secure a solution to the problem, and we have already notified and called the Israeli Cabinet to probe the matter” said Hammam Sharab, director of the Palestinian Ministry of Waqfs (Endowments) on Tuesday, 21. However, hopes for positive responses are still well below zero.

As time is running out amid this bleak picture, against a backdrop of relentless Israeli occupation and detention operations, the Palestinians are more than likely to miss the chance to leave the West Bank and Gaza Strip for pilgrimage.  

However, if allowed out for the religious ceremony, the Palestinians feel the pinch heavily, Sahrab said, referring to the fact that Palestinian pilgrims have to leave for the Egyptian border airport of Al-Arish, as the international Gaza Airport is now non-operational after the Israeli attacks that left it in ruins.  

Unattainable Adventure

Since the Palestinian Intifada against the Israeli occupation erupted in September 2000, most of the Palestinians have been branded “wanted” by the Israeli forces.

In this perspective, the journey for pilgrimage has become unattainable dream as long as the specter of Israeli occupation still looms higher.

To add salt to injury, the pilgrimage pinch the Palestinian pockets heavily, as the travel by air cost about 1031 Jordanian Dinars ($ around 1000), in addition to other personal charges.