The Gulf kingdom of Saudi Arabia has banned Palestinians with Israeli citizenship from entering the country, which means they’re now unable to make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, made by millions of people each year.

According to the Daily Express, Israeli citizens are not accepted in 16 Arab countries, including Saudi. And although Palestinian Muslims have been able to use temporary Jordanian passports to enter the country since 1978, this loophole has now been closed.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that over one million Israeli Muslims will be affected by the changes to the passport rules – some 17 per cent of the Palestinian population.

Speaking to the news source, Hajj Salim Shalata – chairman of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee – said: “We have no explanation for what happened, so we appealed to every possible avenue of help, but to our great regret the pilgrimage that was supposed to take place in December, for which thousands of people have registered, will not be held.”

Once a year, Muslims from every ethnic group, culture and social status gather together in Mecca to praise Allah together in front of the Kaaba, a square building draped in a silk and cotton veil that is the holiest shrine in Islam.

All Muslims aim to undertake the Hajj to the Kaaba at least once in their lives if they’re able to. Upon arrival in Mecca, pilgrims come together in the courtyard of the Masjid al-haram and then walk around the Kaaba, hoping to kiss and touch the Black Stone found in the eastern corner.

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