Fri Apr 18 12:49:28 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Boy’s Photo Wins World Press Photo of the Year
**The Hague, Netherlands –** A poignant photograph depicting nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour, a Palestinian boy who lost both arms in an Israeli attack on Gaza City in March 2024, has been awarded the World Press Photo of the Year. The image, taken by Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times, was selected from nearly 60,000 entries submitted by photographers from 141 countries.
The photo shows Ajjour, his arms amputated just below the shoulders. Abu Elouf, in a statement, shared the heartbreaking detail that Ajjour’s first question to his mother after realizing his injuries was, “How will I be able to hug you?”
The World Press Photo organization described the image as a “quiet photo that speaks loudly,” highlighting the devastating impact of the conflict on individuals and the enduring consequences of war. Ajjour was injured while fleeing an Israeli attack; an explosion severed one arm and severely damaged the other.
The Israeli offensive on Gaza followed a Hamas attack on October 7, 2024, which resulted in significant casualties in Israel. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports over 51,000 Palestinians killed and over 116,000 wounded in the Israeli offensive, with a significant portion being women, children, and infants. Israel attributes the high civilian toll to Hamas operating within civilian areas.
Abu Elouf, who was evacuated from Gaza in December 2023 and now lives in Doha, Qatar, alongside Ajjour, captured this powerful image that the judges described as offering “a layered entry point into a complex story.” Two other finalists highlighted the issues of migration (Chinese migrants crossing the US-Mexico border) and climate change (a young man carrying food across a dried-up riverbed in the Amazon).
First Piper 