“People got out, watched, beat them, hit them, and I followed them and filmed. But I did not publish those videos. Why? Because I did not want to ruin the lives of the people who were filmed.”
A Gaza photographer and journalist who collaborated with child entertainer Ms. Rachel admitted to filming Israeli hostages being beaten in the streets of Gaza during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Motaz Azaiza made the admission during a recent interview with journalist Ahmad Biqawi. Azaiza admitted that he did not publish the footage of Israelis being beaten because he wanted to protect the Palestinians who were involved.
“I saw the vehicle of the Al-Qassam Brigades, and there were Israeli captives there,” Azaiza explained. “People got out, watched, beat them, hit them, and I followed them and filmed. But I did not publish those videos. Why? Because I did not want to ruin the lives of the people who were filmed.”
“I understood that Israel would use those videos to identify every person who was there and eliminate them,” he said. “I did not want to be responsible, even indirectly, for the deaths of those people in exchange for a few likes and views online.”
Azaiza also criticized Hamas leadership during the interview, saying the group has failed to protect Palestinians in Gaza. He admitted that the terrorist group knew how Israel would respond after the Oct. 7 attack and carried it out anyway.
“Anyone who tells you we didn't expect the reaction, tell him you're lying. All of Gaza expected the reaction,” Azaiza said. “Hamas itself knew the Israeli reaction. So it went in on Saturday, the Jews' Sabbath.”
Azaiza additionally discussed his interactions with Hamas officials, including a meeting with former Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh. He said he asked for photographs from the meeting to be hidden.
The comments come as Azaiza remains the most recognized Palestinian journalist to emerge from the ongoing conflict. He has previously been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and was listed as one of TIME’s most influential people in the world.
In July 2025, Ms. Rachel posted a video on Instagram featuring Azaiza, in which she introduced him for the letter of the day, “M,” which stood for her “friend Motaz.” The post was later removed following backlash from parents and activist groups.
Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, has been outspoken about several political and social issues, despite being a children's content creator. She has particularly been outspoken about the conflict in Gaza, posting recently on Instagram that people should stop being “racist” and care about the children in the region.
"We're not going away, and we are not going to stop saying not to use our tax dollars to hurt and kill kids and people,” she wrote in a post.
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