Gaza citizen journalist Motaz Azaiza 'anti-war profiteering' comments divide Palestinians as Facebook bans his account

A post by 25-year-old Palestinian Gaza citizen journalist Motaz Azaiza interpreted as criticism of Hamas has caused divisions among his followers.

In a social media post shared to his X (Twitter) and Instagram accounts, Azaiza wrote: "Those who turn a blind eye to the suffering and struggles of their own people should matter nought to us. Cursed be those who profit from our blood, scorch our hearts and homes, and wreck our lives."

Although Azaiza's post does not mention Hamas or any Palestinian militants, many Palestinians chose to construe it as an 'untimely' criticism of Hamas, the Palestinian faction leading the defence of Gaza against Israel's onslaught since October 7. 

Indicative of the mass trauma and anger felt due to the war, Palestinians even accused him of 'selling out' and supporting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, seen as a collaborator largely silent on the genocide in Gaza.

According to a Lebanese newspaper report, Azaiza later qualified his comments to mean war profiteers who are gauging prices of basic foodstuffs in Gaza amid a near famine situation caused by Israel's weaponisation of starvation in the besieged and occupied Gaza Strip.

Azaiza also posted in English, accusing his critics of 'ignorance' and vowing to continue his struggle against "Zionist propaganda" despite his detractors.

Last week, Azaiza said Meta had suspended his Facebook account although his Instagram page remains active.

Israel launched a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, mostly civilian women and children, following Hamas' attack on southern Israel that killed up to 1,200 Israelis, including hundreds of civilians.

Who is Motaz Azaiza and where is he now?

Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza evacuated from Gaza in January, after surviving 108 days of Israeli military onslaught on the territory.

The 25-year-old had documented the destruction wreaked upon his home city since the beginning of Israel’s latest war on Gaza in October, gathering millions of followers on Instagram along other citizen-journalists. Very few journalists now remain amid probable Israeli targeting of reporters and denial of access to Gaza to the international press.

He evacuated first to Qatar via Egypt. In late February, he travelled to Turkey to pick up a media prize, but admitted he could “feel no happiness” for the award due to the trauma of Israel’s continued war on Gaza.

He is scheduled to appear in his first ever live event in the United States on Friday hosted by Harvard University.