Gaza Photographer Admits Filming Israeli Captives on Oct. 7

Motaz Azaizah, a Gaza-based photographer and a prominent figure recognized by Time magazine, has revealed that he filmed Israeli captives being beaten by a mob on October 7 but chose not to release the footage. Azaizah explained in a podcast interview that he withheld the videos to protect the Gazans involved, fearing Israeli identification and retribution. "I saw the Al-Qassam Brigades' car, and there were Israeli prisoners," Azaizah recounted, adding that he filmed the scene but decided against publishing "to avoid destroying the lives of the people who appeared in the frame." He stated he did not want to be indirectly responsible for their deaths for online engagement.

Azaizah also offered strong criticism of Hamas's governance, attributing the devastation in Gaza to the organization. While identifying as a supporter of Palestinian armed resistance, he set conditions, stating it should be effective and value Palestinian lives. He questioned Hamas's operational effectiveness since the war began, asking if any Gazan had been protected by Hamas's weapons. He criticized Hamas's leadership for delaying potential ceasefire agreements, suggesting they could have agreed to terms as early as October 8, 2023, and questioning the necessity of tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths.

Now living in Qatar after fleeing Gaza approximately four months into the war, Azaizah described experiencing a system designed to suppress criticism of Hamas. He detailed a WhatsApp group, allegedly managed by a Hamas official, used to organize online harassment campaigns against journalists who deviate from the organization's narrative. Azaizah himself faced such attacks after publishing a video of a civilian criticizing Hamas, noting that Gaza photographers often stop filming when negative comments about Hamas are made due to fear of persecution.

Despite his international recognition, Azaizah expressed deep despair over the Palestinian situation and his personal trauma. He described a constant state of "burning trauma" and a desire to "die," finding himself unable to be happy despite global engagements. He characterized Gaza as "the most toxic place in the world," a place of love and hate, pain and destruction, where the cost of appeasing leaders who disregard their people is immense.