Children’s YouTube personality, Ms. Rachel, encountered renewed scrutiny when a 2025 video resurfaced. In the video, she refers to Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza as her “friend.” This happened days after Azaiza admitted to withholding footage of Israeli hostages being beaten in Gaza on October 7, 2023.
Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, was shown introducing Azaiza to her young viewers while teaching the letter “M.” The video originally appeared on Instagram before subsequently being removed in July 2025.
Azaiza, who has a significant social media following for his documentation of the Gaza conflict, appeared in the clip, greeting Ms. Rachel. The video’s relevance increased after Azaiza detailed his experiences witnessing the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, during an interview on the “Taqarrab” podcast.
Azaiza said, “I saw the vehicle of the Al-Qassam Brigades, and there were Israeli captives there. People got out, watched, beat them, hit them, and I followed them and filmed. But I did not publish those videos.”
Azaiza explained his decision to withhold the footage due to concerns that Israel could identify Palestinians involved in the beating. He expressed his reluctance to contribute to potential dangers to those filmed in exchange for online attention.
Azaiza, while critiquing Hamas, described the challenges faced by journalists in Gaza. He shared insights on how journalists learned to avoid capturing moments of Palestinian criticism towards Hamas to prevent possible reprisals.
Despite being an armed resistance advocate, Azaiza conveyed dissatisfaction with Hamas, asserting that its actions did not protect Palestinians living in Gaza.
Azaiza stated, “I support armed resistance, but one that brings results, or at least gives me the feeling that my life is valuable in the eyes of the resistance.”
Azaiza’s prominence increased post-conflict, with Time magazine naming him among the world’s 100 most influential people in 2024 for his photographic work in Gaza.
Rabbi Yaakov Menken, representing the Coalition for Jewish Values, criticized Azaiza’s decision to conceal footage, raising ethical questions about his journalism. Menken expressed concerns about Azaiza’s moral compass, given the violence he had recorded but chose not to disclose in order to protect the perpetrators.
Ms. Rachel has been vocal about Gaza, accusing celebrities of racial bias in their silence over Palestinian children. Elizabeth Barcohana of the California Republican Party expressed concern over Ms. Rachel’s influence in spreading what she perceives as misleading information to a vulnerable audience.
Fox News Digital reached out to Ms. Rachel for commentary but did not receive an immediate response. C.J. Womack, an associate editor at Fox News, highlighted the importance of journalism in shaping perceptions, referencing Ms. Rachel’s situation.