A Palestinian photojournalist has given a harrowing account of the ongoing situation in Gaza during a rally in Derry.
Motaz Azaiza, nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize this week by Norwegian parliamentarian Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik, was speaking in Derry’s Bogside area this week.
Raised in Deir al-Balah camp in Gaza, Mr Azaiza studied English at Al-Azhar University. In 2023, he was employed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine refugees.
From October 7 2023, Mr Azaiza was constantly recording the brutal bombings and killings of tens of thousands of Palestinians and relaying the reality of life in Gaza to his 18 million Instagram followers.
The scene on Thursday evening at Free Derry Corner as #Derry welcomed Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza (@azaizamotaz9) to the city.
— Catherine McGinty (@CathMcGin_Tea) August 22, 2024
Introduced by Catherine Hutton, chair of Derry Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@ipsc_derry), he said: "I am here as a messenger from… pic.twitter.com/D7N1hi0c3k
In January, after 108 days of reporting on the Israel-Hamas war, Mr Azaiza and some of his family evacuated to Egypt and then Doha in Qatar. He subsequently began meeting ministers, diplomats and media figures to share his accounts, frustrated that his attempts to broadcast what was happening in Gaza had not changed things.
Following a visit to the Museum of Free Derry in the Bogside on Thursday, he addressed upwards of 1,000 supporters at Free Derry Corner.
Mr Azaiza thanked artists who had painted his portrait on the famous wall, and the crowd for its “love and solidarity”.
“I am here as a messenger from my people to tell you that we need your support and help because what is happening to us is a genocide,” he said.
“I saw a dog here earlier, this cute dog, but the dogs in Gaza are eating our bodies.
“I am here to deliver the message of my people, the people who don’t have a voice. I never chose to be in this place, but I never had a choice as a Palestinian, we don’t have a choice.
“I am sharing the voice of the people in Gaza. They see you through my channels and my story. We are struggling under genocide since 1948. This didn’t start yesterday or 10 months ago.”
Mr Azaiza asked the crowd to “keep doing what you are doing”.
After a march to the Guildhall, he received a mayoral reception before having a conversation about the conflict in Gaza with Derry Girls star Jamie Lee O’Donnell in front of a capacity audience.
I asked Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza (@azaizamotaz9) if he had one message for the people of Derry, Ireland, what would it be?
— Catherine McGinty (@CathMcGin_Tea) August 23, 2024
His reply was: “Thanks for what you are doing but unfortunately, we need to do even more because whatever we do, unfortunately, the power… pic.twitter.com/ua05eSrc2n
Speaking to The Irish News, Mr Azaiza asked people to do “even more” to highlight the plight of Gaza.
“Thanks for what you are doing but unfortunately, we need to do even more because whatever we do, unfortunately, the power of injustice is bigger, so we need be together more,” he said.
“We can boycott, we can keep talking, protest or we can fight, so whatever you want you can do, you have power.”
