The Journey of Motaz Azaiza: Documenting War in Gaza and the Decision to Depart

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Motaz Azaiza, a Palestinian photographer, bravely captured the story of the war in Gaza on Instagram for 108 days, despite facing danger and losing loved ones. However, he has sadly left Gaza feeling disheartened.

"Nothing has changed. The international community, he says, remains unmoved by the devastating images of death and destruction caused by Israel's war on Gaza," he expressed during an interview with CNN's Becky Anderson.

Many people worldwide have praised him for being the voice of Gaza, showing the harsh reality of the war through his lens. Surprisingly, Azaiza did not seek this attention. Originally an aspiring travel photographer, his first Instagram post in May 2014 was a simple image of a beautiful natural scene - vibrant petals of fuchsia and crimson surrounding an orange center. Botanists refer to this plant as Gazania. It was clear from the start that he wanted to share his view of the world's beauty.

"I wish to showcase the beauty of Gaza, not the conflict in Gaza. Unfortunately, I feel compelled to document what is happening," he expressed. "But when I share these images, it feels like I am overshadowing the beauty."

Prior to October 7, Azaiza had around 25,000 followers on Instagram, as reported by the social media analytics company Social Blade. His loyal following has since skyrocketed to over 19 million, with some of his videos garnering more than 70 million views. Unlike traditional media outlets, his clips depict the harsh realities of war in a raw and honest manner.

9-year-old Palestinian Lama Jamous documents the challenges of being displaced and under siege in Gaza to her hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.

9-year-old Palestinian Lama Jamous documents the challenges of being displaced and under siege in Gaza to her hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.

Lama Jamous

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From morning until night, his Instagram stories showed a constant flow of destruction and pain, with him feeling helpless to stop it or get away from it.

Several times a day, Azaiza watched as men desperately tried to rescue injured survivors from the debris using only their hands. Sadly, they were often too late, and Azaiza was captured on camera gently touching the lifeless bodies.

Israel has made it difficult for international journalists to report independently from Gaza and see firsthand the impact of Israel's bombardment on Palestinian civilians. The Israeli military takes foreign journalists, including those from CNN, on brief and carefully planned trips into the war-torn area, and they must submit their footage to the military for review. Israel claims these restrictions are for the safety of the embedded journalists.

Azaiza, who prefers to be called a photographer rather than a journalist, shared with CNN his experience of showing the world what the Western media could not capture. He feels a sense of accomplishment for being able to showcase the reality of the situation in Gaza, despite facing challenges.

Some of the most heartbreaking moments captured by Azaiza show children who have been either killed or injured. He has tried to provide comfort to them as they rode together in ambulances, with the children sitting awkwardly in his lap, bloodied and frightened. Sometimes, he found himself at a loss for words. On one occasion, it seemed like there was nothing more he could do. Holding a lifeless infant with serious head injuries, Azaiza fought back tears and softly uttered, "God. God."

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, over 30,000 people have lost their lives since October 7, with nearly half of them being children. CNN is unable to independently verify these numbers. Among those who have survived, UNICEF reports that at least 17,000 children are now unaccompanied or separated from their parents.

Motaz Azaiza stands in a street in central Gaza on December 18.

Motaz Azaiza stands in a street in central Gaza on December 18.

Azaiza now resides in Doha, the capital of Qatar. When he managed to leave Gaza by crossing the border into Egypt at Rafah, he had no clue where he would end up.

After being rejected twice by the Israeli government, Azaiza finally managed to escape to Qatar with his family. He waited anxiously at the Rafah crossing on January 22 for five hours, unsure of what the future held. CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for their response.

At the crossing, two men representing the Qatari foreign ministry approached Azaiza. They welcomed him, saying, "Motaz, you're welcome to Doha. You can come to our country and continue from there." Grateful for the opportunity, he boarded a Qatari military flight at Egypt's El Arish Airport, beginning to make plans for his next steps.

"I wanted to find a way to escape, to speak publicly, to communicate with the world, to stand in solidarity with those protesting for us, to join them, to share my experiences that I couldn't even share on social media... because it's so intense," he shared with CNN.

Dealing with depression

Azaiza's social media accounts used to have more light than darkness before the latest war in Gaza started. Despite this, he always showed the harsh reality of life in the strip by regularly documenting Israeli airstrikes. For him, his camera was a way to deal with the challenges and sadness.

However, this time, the destruction and loss were too overwhelming. Azaiza couldn't avoid being physically present amidst the chaos. He is still struggling to come to terms with what he saw.

This image was captured in southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 3, 2023. It shows smoke rising over the Palestinian enclave during Israeli bombardment amid ongoing conflicts between Israel and the militant group Hamas. International calls for the protection of civilians and the renewal of a ceasefire with Hamas have been increasing as Israel conducted deadly bombardments in Gaza on December 3. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

This picture taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 3, 2023, shows smoke billowing over the Palestinian enclave during Israeli bombardment amid continuing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas. Israel carried out deadly bombardments in Gaza on December 3 as international calls mounted for greater protection of civilians and the renewal of an expired truce with Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images

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A CNN reporter in Gaza had his relatives killed and childhood home destroyed in two separate strikes. Despite the tragedies, he expressed his need to find a solution and called for an end to the violence.

Azaiza expressed his frustration that his efforts to raise awareness did not prevent the devastation in Gaza. However, he remains determined to continue making a difference.

He has received invitations to speak at universities globally and is looking forward to embarking on a speaking tour. However, obtaining visas can be challenging due to his Palestinian passport.

Azaiza, despite his growing recognition, aims to shift the spotlight onto the hardships faced by those he left back home. In a recent interview with CNN, he shared that what left the deepest impact on him was the sight of "thousands of babies' bodies." He expressed concern that for those who manage to survive, their future appears uncertain and unclear.

How will you explain to them as they grow older that their parents died in Gaza when an Israeli plane bombed their home, causing their bodies to be torn apart? Can we really expect them to live normal lives after experiencing such trauma?

Editor's P/S:

The article's poignant depiction of Motaz Azaiza's harrowing experience as a Palestinian photographer in Gaza during the conflict has left me deeply moved and sobered. His relentless efforts to capture the devastation and human toll of the war, despite facing danger and losing loved ones, are a testament to his unwavering courage and commitment to truth-telling. Yet, his departure from Gaza, filled with a sense of disheartening and frustration, underscores the ongoing tragedy and the failure of the international community to respond effectively to the plight of the Palestinian people.

Azaiza's words resonate with me as he questions the efficacy of his efforts in raising awareness and preventing further suffering. His concern for the future of the children who have endured unimaginable trauma and loss is both heart-wrenching and a stark reminder of the long-term consequences of war. The article's vivid descriptions of the destruction and pain witnessed by Azaiza serve as a powerful indictment of the violence and injustice that continue to plague the region.