The Reluctant Photo‑Star of Gaza

June 26, 2025 – Palestine – 

Motaz Azaiza, a 26‑year‑old from Deir al‑Balah in Gaza, has become an unexpected global photojournalist since the outbreak of full‑scale war in October 2023. Before then, he led a modest life, capturing daily moments in Gaza for around 25,000 Instagram followers. When Israeli strikes began, his footage—raw, unfiltered, deeply human—went viral, rapidly amassing nearly 17 million followers, transforming him overnight into a visual chronicler of his people’s suffering.

Wearing casual attire and gold‑rimmed glasses, Azaiza traveled to the U.S. this June to raise funds for UNRWA USA at a Philadelphia benefit. Despite the celebrity‑style attention—selfies, high‑donation calls reaching $20,000—he emphasized he did not seek fame. “I wish you had known me without the genocide,” he said, his voice showing the weight of what he’s witnessed.

His journey from local content creator for UNRWA to a global ambassador is marked by survival: he escaped Gaza after enduring 108 days of bombardment through Egypt. The price was high—friends and family lost, homes destroyed—but he views this fame as a responsibility. He lives for his return to Gaza, stating his real ambition is to continue capturing and sharing images from his homeland.

At the fundraiser, donors and attendees emphasized how his images “humanize” the conflict, connecting viewers directly to the suffering of children and families caught in the war. Experts note that Azaiza and other Gazan journalists wield significant influence via social media, shaping global opinion by bypassing traditional media channels. A single image, in this context, can convey more than a thousand words—sometimes even a million.

Azaiza’s story is more than celebrity; it’s a testament to the transformative power of frontline photography. While he grapples with reluctant fame, he continues to bridge Gaza and the world, reminding global audiences that behind every image is a home, a family, and an ongoing story awaiting its resolution.

Reference – 

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/06/reluctant-fame-gazan-photojournalist-motaz-azaiza