A picture taken of Motaz Azaiza in Gaza / Instagram: @motaz_azaiza
UPDATE: January 29 - Motaz Azaiza got to meet the Palestine national football team for the first time today in Doha prior to their match against Qatar. Palestine, however, bowed out of the Asian Cup in a 2-1 defeat to the tournament's defending champions.
Got to meet the Palestine Football National team ???????? for the first time today in Doha. They are playing in the Asia Football Cup Champion League.
— MoTaz (@azaizamotaz9) January 28, 2024
Wishing them a good luck in their game with Qatar tomorrow. I just went to visit and support them with some words as they are… pic.twitter.com/KtunJAHeju
---
Doha, Qatar: After over 100 days of risking his life to document the war in Gaza, Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza has announced on his Instagram story and Facebook wall that he has landed in Qatar today, January 23.
Aboard a Qatari military plane from Egypt's El Arish International Airport, the 'Gaza content producer' who has been on the frontlines since October 7, 2023, did not explain the reason for his decision in the departure video he posted on his social media accounts but maintained optimism, saying, "Insha Allah, I'll come back and help to build Gaza again."
Known for his extensive coverage of the ongoing war in Gaza, Azaiza has emerged as a crucial media figure in the embattled Strip with over 18 million followers on Instagram and 1 million on X (formerly Twitter).
In the heartfelt video, Azaiza bid farewell to his followers, expressing the heaviness of the situation. "This is the last time you will see me with this heavy, stinky vest. I decided to evacuate today." He removed his 'Press' jacket with the assistance of friends and fellow journalists. In the caption he said: "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."
Hours after posting the video, he announced that he has landed in Qatar. Showing his current location Doha, he said: "I left with a broken heart and tears filling my eyes. There was no other choice after 108 days and no one stopped the Israeli massacres against us. I had to move to another place so that I could work more, and God willing he uses us to be the reason for stopping the war and rebuilding Gaza. I have arrived in sisterly Qatar. Thank you."
Originally focusing on everyday life in Gaza, particularly street and portrait photography, Azaiza's work shifted to covering Israel's military operations, including the wars in 2014 and 2021.
A picture taken of Motaz Azaiza in Gaza / Instagram: @motaz_azaiza
The 24-year-old photojournalist gained international recognition for his reporting, earning the title of "Man of the Year" on the front page of GQ Middle East magazine's December 2023 issue. Also, one of his photographs, titled 'Seeing Her Through My Camera', was among Time magazine's Top 10 photos of 2023. It showed a young girl trapped under rubble at the Al Nusairat refugee camp following an Israeli airstrike.
It's worth emphasizing that Gaza remains inaccessible to external press independently. Motaz Azaiza and his fellow journalists have been instrumental in bridging the information gap, ensuring that the world outside Gaza gains access to essential footage and a deeper understanding of the unfolding events in the region.
In October 2023, Al Jazeera reported that 15 members of Azaiza's family have been killed, most of them women and children.
Wael Dahdouh, Al Jazeera's Gaza bureau chief who lost his family including his journalist son Hamza Wael Dahdouh and several relatives and was himself wounded during the war, also recently left the enclave and is currently in Qatar for medical treatment.
Since October 7, 2023, journalists have faced significant risks, with over 80 reported killed while covering the war. The latest figures from the Gaza's Ministry of Health indicate that at least 25,490 people have been killed, and over 63,000 have been wounded since the conflict's onset.
