Why Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are denied visa for Hajj

More than 170,000 Palestinians are affected by Saudi Arabia’s decision, effectively preventing them from pilgrimage.

Palestinians living in Lebanon are appealing to Saudi Arabia to reconsider visa changes that have blocked them from making their pilgrimage to Mecca.

The kingdom stopped giving visas to those holding refugee documents, effectively barring nearly 170,000 people.

Many fear the Saudi decision is political and linked to US President Donald Trump’s so-called “deal of the century” between Israel and the Palestinians, the details of which are still to be announced.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr reports from Beirut.