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Rabat – On Tuesday, 24-year-old Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza announced that he would evacuate Gaza for Qatar.
He boarded a Qatari military airplane at El Arish International Airport in Egypt.
Prior to 7 October 2023, Azaiza predominantly posted travel and cultural content on his social media accounts, however since the outbreak of the devastating war, he rose to prominence for his raw, unfiltered footage that captures the true horrors facing civilians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
He has been applauded for sharing live updates of the atrocities and documenting perilous conditions, with a global audience that has risen sharply in just a few months.
Azaiza boasts over 18 million followers on his Instagram account, exceeding the number that US President Joe Biden has.
Moreover, he has over a million followers on X, formerly named Twitter, and just under 500,000 followers on Facebook.
The exact reason why he has left Gaza remains unknown, but his post on X states: ‘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.’
Azaiza has previously spoken of the death threats he has received from Israel to stop documenting the assault in Gaza, and there is speculation that this may be one of the reasons for his evacuation.
The Palestinian photojournalist received an outpour of support on several social media platforms following his decision to leave Gaza.
One user on X commented: ‘…You were a pivotal voice in showing the world the Israeli atrocities in Gaza…’
Many celebrities commended Azaiza’s brave actions and amongst them was American stand-up comedian, Sammy Obeid, who said: ‘Frame that vest. It’s the armor of one of history’s greatest heroes.’
Azaiza is one of many journalists who reported on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, the dire situation has forced him and several others to leave for safety reasons.
The war in Gaza is fraught with danger, particularly for journalists reporting on the true reality of the situation.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) claims that 83 journalists and media workers have been killed since the start of the atrocities in Gaza, the majority of whom are Palestinians.
Reports reveal that 25,490 have now been killed in Gaza, while 63,354 have been injured. As the figures continue to increase, pressure mounts on calls for a ceasefire.
Read also: Israel PM Pledges to Persist Murderous Campaign Against Civilians in Gaza
