LONDON: Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza, known for his compelling coverage of war-torn Gaza, has safely arrived in Doha after evacuating the strip on Tuesday.
Gaining immense popularity, Azaiza’s Instagram following surged to over 18 million in just 108 days as he documented the daily realities of Israel’s military invasion and relentless bombardment of the besieged strip.
On Tuesday morning, the 24-year-old announced his evacuation from Gaza in a heartfelt video on social media. He expressed a mix of relief and sorrow, saying: “This is the last time you will see me with this heavy, stinky (press) vest. I decided to evacuate today. … Hopefully soon I’ll jump back and help to build Gaza again.”
Azaiza hinted at multiple reasons for his evacuation, some of which he suggested were known to his audience.
The photojournalist has openly spoken about receiving death threats and alleged offers from Israel to stop documenting the aggression in Gaza.
His journey out of Gaza took him through the Egyptian border to El Arish airport where he was received by a Qatari military jet.
Azaiza told his followers that this was the first time he had flown in an airplane.
His announcement video on Instagram has already garnered over 2.5 million likes and a flood of supportive comments, including from celebrities like Kehlani, Karen Wazen, and Alana Hadid.
Citizen journalists like Azaiza have played a crucial role in humanizing the Gaza war. Through platforms like Instagram, they have forged deep emotional bonds with a global audience, spotlighting the human impact of the bloody conflict.
The situation in Gaza has also compelled other journalists to leave. Wael Dahdouh, Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Gaza, evacuated to Doha for medical treatment earlier this month, following the death of his son Hamza, also a journalist, in an Israeli airstrike. Plestia Alaqad, a 22-year-old journalist, moved to Melbourne in November, prompted by concerns for her family’s well-being.
Despite these departures, several prominent journalists continue to report from Gaza, including 9-year-old Lama Jamous, 25-year-old Bisan Owda, and 29-year-old Hind Khoudary.
