King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has allocated 1,000 Hajj slots specifically for Palestinians, in addition to 1,300 seats for other Muslims from over 100 countries to participate in this year's Hajj. Saudi’s Arab News reported that “The King has ordered the hosting of 1,000 male and female pilgrims from the families of killed or wounded Palestinians.” This initiative brings the total number of special guests invited by the Saudi king to participate in this year’s Hajj to 2,300.

According to various media outlets, this initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to strengthen Islamic unity and promote cultural exchange. The programme provides comprehensive services to the invited pilgrims, including accommodation, transportation, healthcare, and educational programmes, ensuring a comfortable and spiritually enriching pilgrimage experience.

Since its inception, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme has hosted approximately 65,000 pilgrims from 140 countries, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to serving Islam and Muslims worldwide. It was noted that special consideration was given to the Palestinians as a gesture of empathy.

Recent reports indicate that over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began on October 7, 2023. The death toll includes a significant number of civilians, with reports indicating that more than half of the casualties are women and children. Additionally, over 124,000 Palestinians have been injured during the ongoing hostilities.