Motaz Azaiza was one of the first people to arrive at the al-Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City hours after Israeli bombing wreaked havoc and bombed the upscale area to a shadow of what it was.
If you follow the Gaza situation on social media, you have probably come across a number of Palestinian bloggers that bring you up-to-date information on the ongoing atrocities and massacres that the Palestinian people are suffering at the hands of the Zionists since October 7.
Before the recent genocidal Israeli campaign in Gaza began, Motaz Azaiza was just another photographer on social media with a few followers. Today, he is one of the most popular digital journalists depicting the ground reality.
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Based in Gaza, the photographer is employed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees. He has been uploading images of bombings, deaths, and relief efforts. His Instagram profile included a video of him taking two bloodied and dust-covered babies to the hospital, which has received the most views.
“I have no words for you that is why I have risked my life to show you everything I’ve found [and] everything I am seeing,” he said in a video posted in collaboration with UNRWA on Instagram on Tuesday morning. “Every moment I capture is for you, for the world to take action.”
Reporter Motaz Azaiza captures the moment an Israeli air strike hits a residential area in Gaza City during the day. pic.twitter.com/nHRfvnTXfH
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) October 26, 2023
A video shows the massive Israeli airstrike on gaza city today.
Source IG #motazazaiza#Gaza #Palestine pic.twitter.com/sPlSOKlWo7
— Motaz Azaiza (Press) (@motazazaizagaza) October 25, 2023
Azaiza’s videos show the aftermath of the ongoing conflict. Some of his followers have said that he is their most trusted resource to learn more about the conflict.
Motaz Azaiza is the single most important journalist in the world right now.
— Khaled Beydoun (@KhaledBeydoun) October 22, 2023
Early on Tuesday morning, Azaiza posted on Instagram stories about how he was woken up from his sleep by his mother’s phone call that his neighbour’s home had been bombed. “I am really worried to go there and to see what happened to my street, my house and my neighbor,” he said. “I miss the good mornings.”
Israeli airstrike on a building in the middle of Gaza city.
One of the most bigger air strike I ever saw
Danger close, just near to usSource IG #motazazaiza#Gaza #Palestine pic.twitter.com/swSKaCxwJf
— Motaz Azaiza (Press) (@motazazaizagaza) October 25, 2023
In his later recordings, tragic scenes of people recovering critically injured and dead victims from the wreckage are shown.
Apart from the bombing, Azaiza portrays the daily struggles and minor pleasures experienced by Palestinians in Gaza. He shared experiences on Monday about how individuals scramble to charge their phones as soon as electricity is restored for a few hours in any location.
Israeli airstrike on a building in the middle of Gaza city.
One of the most bigger air strike I ever saw
Danger close, just near to usSource IG #motazazaiza#Gaza #Palestine pic.twitter.com/swSKaCxwJf
— Motaz Azaiza (Press) (@motazazaizagaza) October 25, 2023
Azaiza has frequently stated, as seen in the video he uploaded on Tuesday, that he fears for his life. He remarked, “Every second I feel less sure that I will survive.”
Last week, he posted a video of himself walking with the caption: “After all (that) is going on..I don’t feel like I’m going to make it to the end, so please forgive me.”
Motaz Azaiza isn’t just documenting @Israel’s constant massacres of his people – including his own family. He’s giving his own blood. A hero for eternity. pic.twitter.com/IYLBVFAy96
— Dan Cohen (@dancohen3000) October 24, 2023
Apart from Azaiza, there are several other content creators on the ground in Gaza, who are communicating in real time about what is unfolding in the besieged city.
These bloggers encompass a diverse range of individuals, including photographers, journalists, actors, human rights activists and even children. Shockingly, the Zionist entity has been targeting them with ruthless actions, ranging from murdering them while they document events to launching airstrikes on their family homes, resulting in the cold-blooded killing of these individuals. Medical personnel and doctors have not been spared either.
