SHAH ALAM - Four Palestinian journalists have been nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of their fearless reporting during Israel's 10-month mass killing in Gaza, shedding light on the harsh realities of the ongoing genocide.
One of the nominees, Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Hilal Azaiza, known as Motaz Azaiza on his official social media account X (formerly Twitter), announced that he has been nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
"I have been nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace prize ‘for giving the world an insight into the atrocities in gaza.’
"Wish me luck and I hope my people will get peace now. Free Palestine,” he wrote on Aug 23.
Before the Gaza genocide, Azaiza's posts highlighted the everyday life and beauty of Gaza.
However, his work gained global recognition during the mass killing in 2014 and 2021, as he began documenting the struggles of Palestinians. Despite the risks, Azaiza remained committed to revealing the truth through his lens, and his coverage of the 2023 conflict had a profound impact.
In addition to Azaiza, three other Palestinian journalists have been nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
Gaza-based TV reporter Hind Khoudary, journalist and activist Bisan Owda, and veteran reporter Wael Hamdan Ibrahim Al-Dahdouh, known as Wael Al-Dahdouh, have also been recognised for their courageous efforts in covering the ongoing conflict.
Each nominee has played a crucial role in bringing the stories of Gaza to the world, often at great personal risk, amplifying the voices of those caught in the conflict.
To be more specific, Khoudary, a 29-year-old Palestinian journalist based in Gaza, has contributed to publications like Middle East Eye and Anadolu Agency.
Her reporting often focuses on political, humanitarian, and social issues, with particular attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the impact of military operations on Palestinian communities.
Meanwhile, Owda, a journalist, activist, and filmmaker, gained widespread recognition for her impactful social media presence.
Her semi-regular video updates and live streams document the experiences of Palestinian civilians, raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis.
Owda has also collaborated with organisations like United Nations (UN) Women, the European Union, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
She produced the show Hakawati, exploring Palestinian history and culture, and has created educational content for YouTube's Easy Languages channel.
In the meantime, Wael Hamdan born in 1970, has been a prominent voice in Palestinian journalism for over two decades.
He began his career in 1998, contributing to local newspapers such as Al-Quds and the Voice of Palestine radio channel.
In 2003, he briefly worked with Al Arabiya before joining Al Jazeera in 2004, where he became a central figure in reporting from Gaza.
His reporting has consistently focused on the humanitarian impact of the current genocide, covering cruel Israeli military operations against Gaza.
The nomination of these journalists comes at a time when the safety of media professionals in conflict zones is increasingly jeopardised.
Since October 2023, Unesco has reported the deaths of 26 journalists in Gaza, illustrating the extreme risks they face while attempting to inform the world about the situation on the ground.
Since October 7, 2023, the genocide in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories has resulted in a devastating toll on civilians.
According to the Palestine's Health Ministry, at least 40,405 Palestinians have been killed and 93,356 wounded in relentless Israeli bombardments.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has registered 285 candidates for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, including 196 individuals and 89 organisations.
This year's nominations reflected a diverse range of advocates for peace, including those involved in various global conflicts, including Gaza and Ukraine.
The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Oct 11 and awarded on Dec 10, continuing the tradition of recognising those who strive for peace and human rights in challenging circumstances.