Watch: Saudi Funds Hajj for 1,000 Families of Palestinian Terrorists Amid Israel Talks
Saudi Arabia has funded Hajj pilgrimages for 1,000 family members of Palestinian terrorists, expanding a program to include relatives of imprisoned and wounded individuals, despite talks of normalizing relations with Israel. The initiative, praised by Palestinian authorities, has sparked controversy for honoring families of those responsible for deadly attacks on Israeli civilians.
Saudi Arabia funded Hajj pilgrimages for 1,000 family members of Palestinian terrorists through the “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program,” managed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. Despite speculation about normalizing ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, the kingdom expanded its annual program, started in 2009, to include relatives of not only deceased but also imprisoned and wounded terrorists. Half of the pilgrims arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, while others entered via land crossings, primarily through Egypt. Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, stated the initiative “reflects the kingdom’s support for Palestine, Islamic holy sites, and Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Palestinian Authority television hailed the gesture as a sign of “loyalty” to terrorists and a commitment to “constant sponsorship and honoring” their families. Among the sponsored pilgrims was Saif Abu Qandil, who, with his sister, appeared on PA TV on June 4, 2025, thanking Saudi Arabia for the “gesture.” His brother, Yusuf Abu Qandil, a Fatah terrorist, murdered Israeli civilian Victor Kreiderman and wounded his wife Emma in 2004. Another pilgrim, the sister of Karam Hassan, a commander in Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, expressed gratitude, saying, “We thank the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the [Saudi] Crown Prince, and thanks to the Saudi people.” Hassan orchestrated the 2001 drive-by shooting that killed Israeli civilian Ruth Shua’i. The Palestinian Authority did not release a full list of sponsored individuals, obscuring the extent of terrorists represented.
This move has drawn criticism amid Saudi Arabia’s $1.2 billion investment in Israeli defense tech in 2024 and ongoing talks with the U.S. and Israel for regional peace. The program, coinciding with Hajj’s 1.5 million foreign pilgrims in 2025, underscores Saudi Arabia’s complex balancing act between supporting Palestinian causes and pursuing broader diplomatic goals, raising questions about its stance on terrorism.