Over 1.5 Million Pilgrims Arrive in Mecca for Hajj Amid Ongoing Israel-Hamas Conflict

The annual Hajj pilgrimage has officially begun in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with over 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims from around the world gathered in and around the city. The event started on Friday with crowds of worshippers circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in the grand mosque. However, the war between Israel and Gaza is casting a long shadow over this year's pilgrimage, as Palestinians in Gaza were unable to travel to Mecca due to the closure of the Rafah crossing.