Journalist Motaz Azaiza Flees Gaza After Months Of Covering Israel-Hamas War

Motaz Azaiza, a young Palestinian journalist who gained a massive following for documenting Israel’s ongoing assault, has evacuated out of Gaza — a decision that comes as the situation in the enclave grows more dire by the day, especially for members of the press.

On Tuesday, the 24-year-old posted a video on Instagram announcing that he was leaving Gaza. Patting the blue ‘PRESS’ jacket with which the world has come to identify him and other Palestinian journalists, Azaiza told viewers that the video is “the last time you will see me with this heavy, stinky vest.”

“I decided to evacuate today,” he said, taking a deep sigh. “I’m sorry, but inshallah, hopefully soon I’ll come back and help to build Gaza again.”

The video ended with Azaiza’s friends and fellow journalists — including some with big followings,like Hind Khoudary — helping him take off the vest, which he began wearing after the conflict broke out, more than 100 days ago.

“I’ll miss these people,” Azaiza said, embracing the journalists while throwing up a peace sign.

Subsequent videos that Azaiza posted on his Instagram Stories show him boarding a Qatari military airplane from Egypt and arriving in Doha. The journalist said it was his first time on a plane.

“Should I be happy?” he wrote in a video he took from inside the aircraft.

The journalist did not say whether Qatar was his final destination. He also did not specify how or why he evacuated, <a