The annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is returning to its monumental scale, with over 1.5 million foreign pilgrims having arrived by Tuesday, primarily by air. Saudi officials anticipate this year's pilgrimage to surpass the numbers from 2023, nearing pre-pandemic levels when over 1.8 million people performed the Hajj. Pilgrim quotas are controlled by Saudi authorities, with each country allocated one pilgrim for every thousand Muslim citizens.

Among the pilgrims are 4,200 Palestinians from the West Bank, while those from Gaza were unable to travel due to the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. Pilgrims perform rituals, including circumambulating the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, wearing ihrams, and enduring high temperatures, reaching 42 degrees Celsius (107 Fahrenheit) during the day.

For many pilgrims, the Hajj is a deeply spiritual experience, providing an opportunity to strengthen their faith, seek forgiveness for past sins, and start anew. The pilgrimage involves various rituals, culminating in a daylong vigil at the Mountain of Arafat and the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil in Muzdalifah.

Despite challenges such as crowded conditions and intense heat, pilgrims express joy and gratitude for the opportunity to participate in one of the world's largest religious gatherings, which is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam.