The Palestinian Authority and hamas, the Islamist militant organization that controls Gaza, are arguing over lists of eligible pilgrims making the journey, The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) reported Thursday. Saudi Arabia asked the Palestinian Authority for lists of pilgrims from the West Bank and Gaza, while Egypt opened its border with Gaza so the pilgrims could travel to Mecca.

West Bank pilgrims left two weeks ago but the militant Hamas insisted on providing its own list of approved travelers from Gaza, the Times reported. When the Saudis said they would not grant them visas, Hamas set up eight checkpoints along the route to the Egyptian border and barred passage to Gazans on the Palestinian Authority list.

Witnesses said the police beat people who did not turn back, the Times reported. Hamas jailed five tourism company owners who arranged the pilgrimage, Maher Amin, who owns a similar company, told the Times.

"Even the Israelis never dared prevent the pilgrimage this way," Amin said.

Hamas leaders said responsibility for preventing the travel lay elsewhere.

"They have been putting military and economic pressure on Gaza, but this is a new form of pressure," Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, said in reference to Israel, Egypt and other countries. "We will not give in."