Palestinian photographer Motaz Azaiza has been included in the Times 100 Most Influential People in 2024. The photographer has been included in the icon category.
The young photographer used social media and his exceptional photography and video-making skills to bring to the world the plight, devastations, and ongoing war in Gaza following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7th, 2024. He showed the loss of innocent lives in Gaza, the destruction of indiscriminate bombing by Israel on the human population in Gaza, and the ongoing genocide in the city. He was, however, forced to leave the city.
Motaz Azaiza became the voice of the people of Gaza at this time. His social media gained a humongous following from across the globe as he captured the grief, pain, and devastation through his camera lenses. He has 18.2 million followers on Instagram and 1.1 million on Twitter.
Time Magazine called him the world’s eyes and ears in Gaza for 108 days. “Armed with a camera and a flak jacket marked ‘PRESS,’ the 25-year-old Palestinian photographer spent nearly four months documenting life under Israeli bombardment: families displaced from homes, women mourning loved ones, a man trapped beneath the rubble,” it said.
Motaz Azaiza acknowledged the Time’s recognition of his work. In a tweet on X, he expressed his gratitude.
Read more: Renowned Journalist Motaz Azaiza leaves Gaza
“For those who don’t recognize Palestine as a state, or for those who claim that it is their land. Palestine gonna be free one day from Zionists and occupation. Everyone does his part, and my part is not done yet,” he wrote on his social media account.