Renowned Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza evacuates Gaza

Gaza, 24 January, 2024 (TDF): Evacuating the besieged Strip, Motaz Azaiza, a 24-year-old independent Palestinian photojournalist, is renowned for documenting Israeli aggression and widescale destruction in Gaza.

His difficult decision to leave was announced on social media, on Tuesday. Azaiza gained international recognition for his raw and brave coverage of the ethnic cleansing of his own people since the beginning of Israeli aggression.

A man is holding a little girl after he extracted her from under the rubble of her destroyed house by the Israeli war planes.
This photo have been taken by me from my street today. pic.twitter.com/R0teHgd4w8

— MoTaz (@azaizamotaz9) December 5, 2023

Azaiza shared the reasons for his evacuation on Instagram and X, citing continuous massacres over 108 days and the need to move somewhere else to continue his work. Despite the challenges, he expressed hope to return to Gaza and contribute to its rebuilding

So,

I had to evacuate for a lot of reasons you all know some of it but not all of it.

Thank you all

Pray for Gaza. pic.twitter.com/sIqULe9d5V

— MoTaz (@azaizamotaz9) January 23, 2024

Background on Motaz Azaiza: A voice for Gaza

Motaz Azaiza, a recent graduate in English Language and Literature from Gaza’s Al-Azhar University, embarked on a journey to shed light on the positive aspects of Gaza.

Creating an Instagram account to showcase his beautiful land and rich culture, he unintentionally became a prominent voice amid the ongoing aggression in Gaza.

2023 NAKBA

Hell no I didn’t want to be the photographer who document this tragedy pic.twitter.com/AQY0tbzjab

— MoTaz (@azaizamotaz9) November 11, 2023

Also Read: Analyzing Palestine and Israel history

His following surged from about 27,500 to 18.4 million as he documented the tragic aftermath of Israeli attacks and the resilience of Gazans.

Impactful journalism amidst continuous massacres

Azaiza documented Israel’s aggression in both 2014 and 2021, becoming a symbol of resilience and hope for the people in Gaza.

His decision to evacuate comes after 108 days of continuous massacres, during which he consistently risked his life to report from the front lines.

Moreover, he was also the focus of occupying forces, leading to his isolation from the community, as evident from one of his posts on X.

It was painful for me to be Isolated by some people from my community
Some of them asked me to not come to their places because Israeli occupation may kill me and they don’t want to die and some stopped to stand with me and even I felt like they are ignoring me.

I completely…

— MoTaz (@azaizamotaz9) December 25, 2023

Challenges for journalists in conflict zones

Motaz Azaiza’s departure highlights the challenges journalists face in conflict zones. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports at least 83 journalists and media workers have been lost in Gaza since the onset of Israel’s attacks.

The extensive death toll of journalists and Azaiza’s evacuation raise crucial questions about the safety and feasibility of journalists inside Gaza.

A farewell and hope for return

In an emotional farewell message on Instagram and X, Azaiza expressed a “broken heart and eyes filled with tears” as he left Gaza.

His departure is both a personal decision and a reflection of the deteriorating conditions for journalists in the region. However, Azaiza hopes to return to Gaza soon and continue his work.

I left Gaza with a broken heart and eyes filled with tears.
There was no other option after 108 days of continuous massacres against us.
It’s time to move somewhere else so I can do more work and I pray that I can be a reason to stop this war and help rebuild Gaza again.
I’ve… pic.twitter.com/kg3FwTi38d

— MoTaz (@azaizamotaz9) January 24, 2024