Gaza pilgrims depart for Mecca

[oberliner]

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Over 300 pilgrims left Gaza for Mecca on Friday night, to take part in Eid al-Adha celebrations in the holy city, the director of Palestinian Airlines said.

The first group, which left Gaza via the Rafah crossing to take two Palestinian Airlines jets from the northern Sinai town El-Arish, will be followed by pilgrims from the West Bank later in the month.

Airline chief Ziad al-Bada told Ma'an that 328 pilgrims were on their way to Saudi Arabia, where they will complete the Muslim pilgrimage to mark Eid al-Adha in early November.

This is the third year Palestinian Airlines has transported Palestinians to Mecca for Hajj, or pilgrimage, al-Bada said.

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