Sukri's Concerns: Worried About Departing for Hajj Amid Iran-Israel War

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East following Iran’s attack by the United States and Israel have left Sukri, one of the Hajj pilgrims from cluster 1 of the Surabaya Embarkation originating from Probolinggo Regency, anxious. He admitted to being worried that armed clashes and airstrikes in the Middle East region threaten his safety along with other Hajj pilgrims. For him, his departure feels like a gamble with his life. “So there’s talk of a test run, for Cluster 1 from Probolinggo Regency, if we make it past the missiles, we can all enter Saudi Arabia,” said Sukri when met at the Surabaya Hajj Dormitory on Tuesday (21/4). Ahead of the scheduled departure on Wednesday (22/4) at 02:00 WIB, Sukri chose to surrender to fate. He continuously prays for a safe journey to the Holy Land without obstacles in international airspace. “If we surrender to Allah ta’ala, whether we live or die is for Allah, because if we get hit by a missile, it’s the world that prays. Hopefully, we can ask for prayers for safety,” he added. In response to the pilgrims’ concerns, the government emphasised that the safety of Hajj flights in 2026 is the top priority. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) is reportedly conducting intensive coordination with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to monitor developments in the region. Director of WNI Protection at Kemlu, Henin Hamidah, assured that the departure process will proceed as planned despite the heating situation in the Persian Gulf. The government also ensured that the airlines transporting the pilgrims will take direct flight routes to Jeddah without passing through red zones or airspace directly affected by the conflict. A total of 760 Hajj pilgrims from clusters 1 and 2 originating from Probolinggo have arrived at the Surabaya Hajj Embarkation Dormitory since Tuesday afternoon. They are scheduled to be the first group marking the beginning of the 2026 Hajj season from East Java.