Motaz Azaiza admits withholding footage of October 7 hostage beatings

Photojournalist Motaz Azaiza admitted in a recent podcast interview that he filmed footage of Israeli hostages being beaten by a crowd in Gaza during the October 7, 2023, attacks but chose not to publish it. Azaiza stated he withheld the videos because he did not want to be responsible for the potential deaths of the individuals filmed, noting that Israel would likely use the footage to identify and eliminate those involved.

Azaiza also described a system of media control in Gaza, claiming that all journalists are part of a Hamas-run WhatsApp group called ‘Smart’ used to coordinate coverage. He reported that the group is managed by a Hamas media director and that journalists face targeting from pro-Hamas media if they publish content critical of the organization, such as footage of residents expressing dissatisfaction with Hamas.