Islam Times - Gaza pilgrims stranded after border attack

Islam Times - After the deadly attack near the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip, many Palestinian pilgrims are now stuck in the besieged coastal enclave not being able to go for the Umrah rituals which is being held in the Holy city of Mecca during the holy month of Ramadan each year.

Mr. Abu Shaaban and his wife who had prepared themselves to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah rituals in the last ten days of Ramadhan.

The closure of the Rafah crossing has not only affected the Umrah pilgrims, but also the traveling agencies who have faced financial losses leaving them with one demand- reopening of the Rafah Crossing.

A political analyst says that Egyptian authorities will continue to punish Palestinians collectively by sealing Gaza borders and tunnels after this border attack by unknown attackers.

Umrah pilgrims say they are pinning hopes on authorities in Gaza and authorities in Egypt to reopen the crossing as soon as possible.

For a reason or another, Gazan Umrah performers have always suffered from the Rafah crossing. Today, they are stranded in Gaza as the Egyptian authorities deny their right to pass to perform the Umrah.