On 4th December, Motaz Azaiza, a Palestinian journalist and photographer currently documenting and enduring the war in Palestine, expressed his feelings of "shame for just being a photographer who documents," rather than someone with the power to intervene and prevent the genocide.
As a photographer, I stand in solidarity and heartfelt empathy with the journalists and photographers on the ground who risk their lives to make others aware of the atrocities occurring in the world. Their voices and images have helped many of us understand the severity of the situation on the ground, especially when much of the mainstream British media has failed to objectively document the atrocities.
Press Freedom
As reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for global press freedom, "at least 68 journalists and media workers were among the more than 21,000 killed since the war began on October 7."
This blog post is dedicated to them.
In Solidarity
As a fellow photographer, I hesitated to share the images below from the ceasefire march in London, UK, in November, unsure if they would make a difference on my relatively small blog. It may or may not have an impact, but I acknowledge the significance of standing in solidarity with photographers and journalists like Motaz and utilizing the platforms I use to avoid turning a blind eye to the atrocities they report on.
Ceasefire March Photos London, 2023
I attended a National Palestine Ceasefire March in London in November to help the Brent & Harrow branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) document their presence there as well as to march myself. The images show the diverse individuals who attended, uniting in peace and solidarity for the people in Palestine. The majority of us share a common desire in not wanting innocent people to die in a genocide, as evident in the large number of people from various walks of life participating in the marches. Together, we marched and will continue to do so until there is peace.
**Trigger Warning**
The following couple of images may be triggering for some people, so please do not continue to view if you are concerned. Children were present at the march, and some signs and dolls were brought along to convey the heartbreak caused by the brutality of war on children.
'Blue'
The Brent & Harrow Solidarity Campaign group continues to protest and campaign for justice for innocent Palestinian people currently suffering. "Please follow their social media pages or visit their website to stay informed about when, where, and how they will be campaigning, as well as how to join them. Links provided below.
As reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for global press freedom, "at least 68 journalists and media workers were among the more than 21,000 killed since the war began on October 7."
This post is dedicated to them.
Mala xx
Useful Links:
Motaz Azaiza, photographer & journalist:
Brent & Harrow Palestinian Solidarity Campaign:
Articles:
The Committee to Protect Journalists: https://cpj.org/2023/12/journalist-casualties-in-the-israel-gaza-conflict/
