GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Travelers hoping to exit the Gaza Strip must register in advance, a border official said Wednesday.

Crossings director Maher Abu Sabha told Ma'an that the registration process was temporarily cancelled during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, but the policy is back in force now.

Abu Sabha described a "state of chaos" during the holiday which prompted the reversal. Hundreds of people traveled through the crossing during Eid, so the process was suspended.

Starting Saturday and until Wednesday, the crossing expects to welcome nearly 4,000 Hajj pilgrims. They will return in batches of 500, Abu Sabha said.