Photo of armless Gaza boy injured in Israeli strike wins World Press Photo of the Year
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This year’s World Press Photo of the Year has been won by self-taught Palestinian photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf for her photograph capturing the suffering of a young Palestinian boy who lost both arms in Gaza, depicting the human cost of Israel’s military campaign in the region.
The winning image depicts nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour, who was severely injured during an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City in March 2024 and was later photographed as he recovered in Qatar.
Selected from a pool of 59,320 entries, the annual World Press Photo Contest recognises excellence in photojournalism and documentary photography, and this year’s winner reflects both the scale of devastation and the resilience of its victims. Mahmoud had turned back to assist others while his family was fleeing an Israeli assault, when an explosion tore off one arm and left the other mutilated, forcing his evacuation to Doha for urgent medical care.
Now residing in Qatar, Mahmoud is learning to adapt by using his feet for daily activities such as eating, writing, and playing games, although he continues to require assistance for basic tasks. Elouf, who also fled Gaza in December 2023, lives in the same apartment complex and documented Mahmoud’s recovery in a photograph that was later published by the New York Times.
The photograph stands as a powerful symbol of the toll the conflict has taken on children in Gaza, as recent figures from the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA) revealed that in just ten days in March, 322 children were killed and 609 injured, averaging nearly 100 children killed or maimed each day during the breakdown of ceasefire talks.
With Gaza now recording the highest per capita number of child amputees in the world, the image underscores the scale of suffering endured by the youngest victims of the conflict, while also drawing attention to the long-term psychological and physical consequences of war. As the World Press Photo organisation marks its 70th year, the winning photograph resonates as a haunting reminder of a war whose impact is likely to echo for generations.