Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs Dr. Taleb Hammad Abu Sha'ar announced that the first group of pilgrims will leave the Gaza Strip to Mecca on Wednesday 3/11/2010, through the Rafah crossing, and the other eight groups will leave until Wednesday 10/11/2010.
He pointed out that the return flights of pilgrims from Mecca will begin on Wednesday 24/11/2010 to Thursday 2/12/2010 from Madinah airport to Al-Arish airport in Egypt.
Minister of Awqaf also showed that the travel of pilgrims this year will be by airplane across the Palestinian Airlines, which will transport pilgrims from Al-Arish airport to King Abd Al Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Dr. Abu Sha'ar said: "Large numbers of pilgrims' passports were sent to the Saudi embassy in Cairo to put them visas." Stressing that more than two thousand passport arrived to the ministry.
Moreover, he explained that a delegation of managers at Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs and companies left the Gaza Strip on their way to Saudi Arabia; to make arrangements to receive the pilgrims at Mecca airport.
Minister of Awqaf indicated that the number of Gaza pilgrims this year reached approximately (5000) pilgrim, (300) of whom from families of martyrs, and (500) from families of prisoners, noting that a sufficient number of administrators and preachers will accompany the pilgrims, in addition to a medical mission including doctors and nurses.
