Gaza Journalist Admits Withholding Footage of Oct. 7 Abuses, Citing Fear of Israeli Retaliation

Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza, who gained international prominence for his coverage of the Gaza war, has revealed in a recent interview that he possessed but deliberately withheld video footage from October 7, 2023, showing Gazans abusing Israeli captives. Azaiza explained in a podcast interview with Ahmad Al-Bikawi that he feared the footage could be used by Israel to identify and eliminate the individuals involved. He stated he did not want to be indirectly responsible for their deaths in exchange for "likes and views."

Azaiza, who was featured on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in 2024 and previously worked with UNRWA USA, described a culture of self-censorship among journalists in Gaza regarding Hamas. He recounted instances where photographers would stop filming if locals began criticizing the organization. Azaiza himself faced a harassment campaign after posting a video of a resident criticizing Hamas, allegedly orchestrated through a WhatsApp group managed by individuals linked to Hamas's media structures.

In the extensive interview, Azaiza also criticized Hamas's leadership, questioning the effectiveness of their armed resistance and accusing them of prolonging a conflict that led to tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths. He suggested Hamas could have accepted earlier ceasefire terms, stating, "You have returned us to the Middle Ages."

Azaiza's admissions offer a new perspective on the editorial independence of Gaza-based reporting disseminated by Western media and social networks during the initial months of the war. His international profile was significantly boosted by outlets like Time, which presented him as the "eyes and ears" of the world in Gaza when foreign journalists lacked access.