The backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war sets the stage for the start of Hajj.

Mina (Saudi Arabia), June 14 (Ozi news desk):  Amid scorching heat, Muslim pilgrims gathered in Mecca at a sprawling tent camp in the desert to mark the official start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage on Friday. Prior to embarking on their journey, they performed the ritual of circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, which holds significant religious importance in Islam. Over 1.5 million pilgrims from various corners of the globe had already flocked to Mecca for the Hajj, with the numbers steadily increasing as more pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia arrived to participate in the pilgrimage. Saudi authorities were anticipating the total number of pilgrims to surpass 2 million for the current year. This year’s Hajj took place amidst the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, intensifying tensions in the Middle East and raising concerns about a potential regional war involving Israel, its allies, and Iran-backed militant groups.