Palestinian journalist Motaz Azaiza features in Times Magazine's 100 most influential people 2024
Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza, known for documenting the impact of Israel’s war on Gaza, has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024 in the ‘Icons’ category.
Time magazine described Motaz as, “The world’s eyes and ears in his native Gaza for 108 days. Armed with a camera and a flak jacket marked ‘PRESS.’”
“The 25-year-old Palestinian photographer spent nearly four months documenting life under Israeli bombardment: families displaced from homes, women mourning loved ones, a man trapped beneath the rubble.”
His images offered a glimpse into Gaza that few in the international press, which has been all but barred from accessing the Strip, could rival. He did so at great risk; at least 95 journalists have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7.
Since his evacuation, Azaiza has been raising awareness of the crisis and calling for international intervention.
“What is happening in Gaza is not content for you,” he was quoted as saying by the magazine. “We are not telling you what is happening … for your likes or views or shares. No, we are waiting for you to act. We need to stop this war.”
“I am really blessed to share my country name with me wherever I go or whatever I achieve,” Motaz wrote on X.
“For those who don’t recognize Palestine as a state, or for those who claim that it is their land. Palestine gonna be free one day from Zionists and occupation. Everyone does his part, and my part is not done yet,” he added.
Palestinian photographer Motaz Azaiza (@azaizamotaz9) is one of the most influential people of 2024 https://t.co/XPSSvLOmQs
— TIME (@TIME) April 17, 2024
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Man shoots woman dead, hangs self in UP’s Baghpat over unrequited love
Baghpat (UP) (PTI): A 20-year-old woman was shot dead by a man who later committed suicide in an apparent case of unrequited love in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat on Thursday, police said.
The incident took place in Mahavatpur Bawli village in the Badaut area, where the accused, Satnam, 22, allegedly shot the woman before hanging himself from a tree, they said.
Superintendent of Police, Suraj Kumar Rai, said preliminary findings suggest the incident was linked to unrequited love, adding that all aspects of the case are being probed.
According to police, the deceased woman, Guddan, daughter of Lakhmi Saini, worked as a tailor from her home.
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Satnam, a resident of the same village, had allegedly been in one-sided love with her for a long time and was pressuring her to marry him.
Police said that around 10.30 am, Guddan stepped out of her house to buy some items when Satnam, who was already waiting in a back lane, stopped her.
An argument ensued, following which he allegedly shot her in the head with a country-made pistol.
The woman collapsed on the spot with serious injuries.
The accused then went back to his house and committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree, police said.
Upon receiving information, police rushed to the spot and took the injured woman to a community health centre, where doctors declared her dead.
A forensic team recovered the weapon used in the crime from the scene, they added.
Police have sent both bodies for post-mortem and initiated an investigation, they said.
