Palestinian Boy Injured in Israeli Attack Wins 2025 World Press Photo Award

The 2025 World Press Photo of the Year was awarded to a poignant portrait by Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf, depicting nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour, who lost both arms during an Israeli attack in Gaza. Selected from over 59,000 entries, the image highlights both Mahmoud's personal tragedy and the wider impact of the ongoing conflict on civilians, especially children. The photograph, praised for its composition and emotional depth, shows Mahmoud adjusting to life in Doha, Qatar, where he is learning to perform daily tasks with his feet after being evacuated for medical care. The story behind the photo was further underscored by Mahmoud's question to his mother upon realizing his amputations: 'How will I be able to hug you?' Jury members and photojournalism leaders commended the image for drawing attention to individual suffering within a broader context of war, providing a nuanced entry point into a complex humanitarian story. The contest also recognized other impactful works, such as images documenting drought in the Amazon and migration at the US-Mexico border.