1. Motaz Hilal Azaiza is a Palestinian photojournalist from Gaza.
12 Facts About Motaz Azaiza
1. 2.
Motaz Azaiza is known for covering the Gaza war, drawing a large social media following.
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Motaz Azaiza attended Al-Azhar University in Gaza, graduating in 2021 with a degree in English studies.
4.
Motaz Azaiza told The Guardian he did not intend to become a war journalist and wished "people knew me for my art, I wanted to capture the beauty of my people".
5.
Motaz Azaiza's dream was to become a travel photographer according to Grazia UK, but he could not yet afford the visa expenses.
6.
Motaz Azaiza's photograph, "Seeing Her Through My Camera," part of his extensive coverage of Gaza during the Gaza war, was listed among Time's top 10 photos of 2023.
7.
In January 2024, Motaz Azaiza appeared on Mehdi Hasan's final show with MSNBC to discuss the dangers of reporting from Gaza under Israel's bombardment.
8.
Motaz Azaiza subsequently began meeting with ministers, diplomats, and media figures to share his accounts, frustrated that his attempts to broadcast what was happening in Gaza had not changed things.
9.
On his first civilian flight, Motaz Azaiza flew to Istanbul on 26 February 2024, beginning his travels to "show, tell and speak more".
10.
Motaz Azaiza was featured on Time's list of the 100 most influential people of 2024 in April.
11.
Motaz Azaiza was one of four Palestinian journalists to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
12.
On 11 October 2023, at least 15 of Motaz Azaiza's relatives were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Deir al-Balah Camp, shortly after the outbreak of the Gaza war.