Systemic conflict and occupation disrupt Hajj access for Palestinians
Original framing: “How Israel's war on Gaza has made Hajj an unreachable dream” — Middle East Eye
The restriction of religious pilgrimage is not new; it has been used historically as a tool of control by colonial and imperial powers. The Ottoman Empire and British Mandate both imposed restrictions on Palestinian movement, setting precedents for current policies.
The disruption of Hajj access for Palestinians is not merely a consequence of war but a systemic outcome of occupation, control over movement, and the erosion of cultural and spiritual sovereignty.
This issue is deeply intertwined with historical patterns of land dispossession and the use of religious restriction as a tool of domination. Indigenous and non-Western perspectives reveal that pilgrimage is a form of resistance and identity assertion, while marginalized voices highlight the human toll of these restrictions. Future solutions must include legal, cultural, and technological pathways to restore access and affirm the right to spiritual practice. International actors, including Muslim-majority nations and interfaith coalitions, must play a role in holding occupying powers accountable and supporting Palestinian resilience.