Motaz Azaiza, a Palestinian journalist, has garnered global attention for his poignant photographs depicting the ongoing atrocities in the Gaza Strip. Named on this year’s TIME100 list of the World’s Most Influential People, Motaz spoke to TIME on the red carpet at the TIME100 Gala in New York City.
TIME reported that Motaz recently engaged with students at Columbia University and New York University, sharing his insights on the Gaza solidarity encampments that have emerged at universities across the United States. Reflecting on his visit, Motaz expressed appreciation for the students’ desire to learn and educate themselves about the situation in his homeland. “It was an honor for me to raise awareness about what is going on in my country,” he remarked.
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On the red carpet, Motaz emphasized the humanity of the Palestinian people, asserting their right to live in dignity. “We are humans,” he emphasized. “Not human animals. We’re asking for and fighting for our freedom.” He painted a grim picture of the suffering endured by his people, highlighting the dire conditions they face, including starvation, homelessness, and ongoing violence. “My people are getting killed, murdered, and starving,” he lamented. “It’s now 200+ days of suffering and murdering people—civilians, most of them are women and children.”
In a somber acknowledgment, Motaz revealed that he had lost over 100 colleagues to attacks by Israel. He emphasized the importance of protecting journalists worldwide, stating, “Journalists should not be afraid of doing their work or threatened to be killed.” Motaz concluded the interview by echoing the sentiment of many Palestinians: “Free Palestine.”
