Middle East

Gazans resume minor pilgrimage after years of Egyptian ban

Associated Press
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A Palestinians Muslim pilgrim waits for a bus en route to Rafah border between Gaza Strip and Egypt before leaving for the hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, in Gaza City, Saturday, March 2, 2019. Gazan residents resume minor pilgrimage to Mecca after five years of Egyptian ban. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

A Palestinian Muslim pilgrim hugs a relative before leaving for the hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, while waits for a bus en route to Rafah border between Gaza Strip and Egypt, in Gaza City, Saturday, March 2, 2019. Gazan residents resume minor pilgrimage to Mecca after five years of Egyptian ban. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip are resuming a minor pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, known as the "umrah," after nearly five years of an Egyptian ban.

The first group of 800 Palestinians from Gaza left through the Rafah crossing point with Egypt on Sunday. Airplanes will fly them to Mecca from the Egyptian capital of Cairo.

Palestinian officials say an agreement was reached between Egypt and the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority to allow the pilgrimage.

Egypt halted the Gazans' umrah in 2015 over instability in northern Sinai, which borders Gaza, but allowed transit for the main hajj pilgrimage.

As Cairo's relations improved with the militant Hamas, which has run Gaza since 2007, Egypt started reopening the border more regularly last summer, paving the way for resuming of the umrah.