Al-A’rish – Ma’an – The first group of Hajj pilgrims will leave Gaza on Friday morning via the Rafah crossing, Palestinian communication officer for the border Jaser Al-Mashukhi announced Thursday afternoon.

Al-Mashukhi said the 300 expected pilgrims will leave Gaza for Al-A'rish and from there to the local airport on the same day.

He noted a second group would pass through from Gaza at 9am, and that the rest of the six groups, of approximately 300 each, would leave once a day over the next six days.

Egypt was responsible for sorting out travel from the crossing to Al-A'rish airport for the thousands of travelers.

Other arrangements were made jointly by the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Waqf, and the de facto government's offices in Gaza.

Last year no Gazans were able to pass through the Rafah crossing for the Hajj because of political disputes over the visa and which government had control over issuing them.