[[{"content_id":368707,"content_number":0,"portal_id":2,"lang_id":"en","content_title":"First group of pilgrims leave Gaza for Makkah","content_rtitr":"","content_short_title":null,"content_summary":"The first group of pilgrims left the Gaza Strip yesterday through the Rafah Crossing heading to Saudi Arabia.","content_summary_fill":1,"content_body":"Pilgrims will leave the Strip over a period of two days, with approximately three batches of 736 pilgrims heading out together to board planes at Cairo airport. A further two batches of 596 pilgrims will head out today.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEarlier, the Saudi authorities announced an increase in the number of people allowed to perform the Hajj this year, after two years of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe pilgrimage to Islam&#39;s holiest site, the Kaaba in the city of Makkah, is one of the five pillars of Islam.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA Muslim is required to perform the Hajj at least once, if they have the means.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSaudi Arabia has limited the Hajj to domestic pilgrims for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 60,000 pilgrims performed the Hajj last year, compared to around 2.5 million in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.","content_html":"<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Pilgrims will leave the Strip over a period of two days, with approximately three batches of 736 pilgrims heading out together to board planes at Cairo airport. A further two batches of 596 pilgrims will head out today.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Earlier, the Saudi authorities announced an increase in the number of people allowed to perform the Hajj this year, after two years of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">The pilgrimage to Islam&#39;s holiest site, the Kaaba in the city of Makkah, is one of the five pillars of Islam.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">A Muslim is required to perform the Hajj at least once, if they have the means.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Saudi Arabia has limited the Hajj to domestic pilgrims for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 60,000 pilgrims performed the Hajj last year, compared to around 2.5 million in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.<\/span><\/p>","content_source":"","content_url":"","content_date_start":"2022-06-22 12:32:59","content_date_event":"2022-06-22 12:32:59","content_date_event_start":null,"content_date_event_end":null,"content_show_title_slider":1,"content_date_last_edit":"2022-06-22 12:38:44","content_date_register":"2022-06-22 12:38:21","content_columns":0,"content_show_img":1,"content_show_details":0,"content_show_related_img":0,"content_show_slider":1,"content_comment":1,"content_score":0,"tag_id":0,"score_average":null,"score_count":null,"score_date_last":null,"uid":44,"eid":44,"attach_title":"First group of pilgrims leave Gaza for Makkah 2","attaches":[{"sizes":{"150":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202206\/504984_2498702272_150_99.webp","300":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202206\/504984_2498702272_300_199.webp","400":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202206\/504984_2498702272_400_265.webp","600":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202206\/504984_2498702272_600_398.webp","900":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202206\/504984_2498702272_893_592.jpg","1200":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202206\/504984_2498702272_893_592.jpg"},"ext":"jpg","file_media":1,"token":2498702272,"files":{"original":{"url":".\/file\/2\/attach\/202206\/504984_2498702272.jpg","width":893,"height":592,"size":0}}}]}]]