A poignant portrait of a young Palestinian boy, Mahmoud Ajjour, who lost both arms due to an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, has been awarded the World Press Photo of the Year. Captured by Samar Abu Elouf, a Palestinian photographer based in Qatar, the image depicts nine-year-old Mahmoud, who expressed his heartache by asking his mother, “How will I be able to hug you?” after realising his condition.
Mahmoud suffered his injuries while fleeing an attack in March 2024. As he turned back to call his family forward, an explosion severed one arm and severely injured the other. Abu Elouf noted the emotional gravity of the moment, emphasising how this single photograph encapsulates both an individual narrative and the broader implications of war, affecting generations to come. “This is a quiet photo that speaks loudly,” remarked Joumana El Zein Khoury, executive director of World Press Photo.
The World Press Photo organisation received an impressive 59,320 submissions from 3,778 photographers across 141 countries for this year’s edition. Abu Elouf, who was evacuated from Gaza in December 2023, now resides in the same apartment complex as Mahmoud in Doha, Qatar.
The competition also recognised two runners-up. One image by John Moore depicts Chinese migrants finding warmth under the rain after crossing the US-Mexico border, while another by Musuk Nolte shows a young man transporting food across a drought-stricken riverbed in the Amazon.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza intensified after Hamas launched a significant attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to devastating Israeli operations in retaliation. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports over 51,000 Palestinian casualties, with the majority being women and children. Israel attributes much of the civilian toll to Hamas’ tactics of operating within populated areas.
In essence, the winning photograph not only sheds light on Mahmoud’s personal tragedy but also serves as a significant reflection on the far-reaching consequences of conflict and the humanitarian crises that ensue.