Report: Saudi King Gives Palestinian Terrorists’ Families Free Trip to Mecca

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has stirred controversy by sponsoring 1,000 Palestinian family members of terrorists to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, even as the kingdom remains under the spotlight for its potential normalization of ties with Israel.

This development was reported through Palestinian Authority outlets and highlighted by Palestinian Media Watch, raising new concerns about the Saudis’ stance toward Palestinian violence.

While there has been ongoing talk of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, the latest move — a grant seen as honoring those tied to acts of terror — suggests that Saudi leadership has not turned its back on supporting individuals responsible for deadly attacks against Israelis.

Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority, publicly expressed gratitude to Saudi leaders, saying, “thanked Saudi Arabia and its leadership for the generous grant they provided this year to 1,000 Palestinian pilgrims from among the families of the Martyrs, the prisoners, and the wounded” [Official PA TV News, June 9, 2025]. The term refers to Palestinians who were killed, captured, or injured while carrying out attacks — and their relatives were flown to Mecca under the king’s sponsorship.

According to Palestinian Authority television, this act symbolizes enduring “loyalty” to the attackers and a pledge of “constant sponsorship and honoring” their families.

The issue of providing material support to relatives of Palestinian terrorists has repeatedly complicated American-Palestinian diplomatic relations. Now, Saudi Arabia’s involvement adds another layer of complexity as it weighs potential diplomatic ties with Israel.

Observers note that while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, has shown greater willingness to explore a relationship with Israel and promote reforms within the kingdom, his father, King Salman, appears far more hesitant and continues to adhere to older policies rooted in support for the Palestinian cause — including controversial acts like this pilgrimage grant.

{Matzav.com}