Quick Read
- The 2025 World Press Photo of the Year was awarded to Samar Abu Elouf for her portrait of Mahmoud Ajjour, a nine-year-old Palestinian boy.
- Mahmoud lost both arms in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City in March 2024.
- The photo highlights the long-term human cost of the ongoing Gaza conflict.
- The winning image was selected from nearly 60,000 entries by 3,778 photographers from 141 countries.
- The photo is part of a traveling exhibition opening in Amsterdam and touring globally.
A Portrait That Speaks Volumes
The 2025 World Press Photo of the Year has been awarded to Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf for her haunting portrait of nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour. The image captures Mahmoud, who lost both arms in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City in March 2024. The photograph, titled “Mahmoud Ajjour, Aged Nine,” was taken in Doha, Qatar, where Mahmoud and his family were evacuated for medical treatment. The photo was originally published in The New York Times.
The Story Behind the Image
Mahmoud’s life changed irrevocably during an airstrike in Gaza, part of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The explosion severed one of his arms and mutilated the other, necessitating their amputation. Three months after the incident, Samar Abu Elouf, herself a Gaza native, met Mahmoud in Doha, where they both now reside. Abu Elouf documented his recovery journey, shedding light on the personal toll of the conflict.
In her notes accompanying the image, Abu Elouf shared a poignant moment from her conversation with Mahmoud’s mother. When Mahmoud first realized his arms were gone, he asked, “How will I be able to hug you?” This heartbreaking question encapsulates the deep emotional and physical scars left by the war.
A Symbol of a Wider Conflict
The photograph is more than just a portrait of a child; it is a stark reminder of the enduring impact of the Gaza conflict. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, tens of thousands have been killed in Gaza, with approximately half being women and children. The destruction has displaced countless families, leaving a generation to grapple with the physical and psychological aftermath of war.
Joumana El Zein Khoury, the executive director of World Press Photo, described the image as “a quiet photo that speaks loudly.” She emphasized that while it tells the story of one boy, it also reflects the broader consequences of a conflict that will resonate for generations.
Selected from Thousands of Entries
The winning photo was chosen from nearly 60,000 entries submitted by 3,778 photographers from 141 countries. The jury, which included prominent figures like Lucy Conticello, director of photography for Le Monde’s M magazine, noted three recurring themes in this year’s submissions: conflict, migration, and climate change. Conticello also highlighted how these themes intersect with stories of resilience, family, and community.
The judges were particularly struck by the contrast in Abu Elouf’s photograph—light and dark, beauty and pain. This juxtaposition, combined with the emotional depth of the subject, made the image stand out among the competition.
Other Notable Winners
In addition to the Photo of the Year, two other works were recognized as runners-up. John Moore’s “Night Crossing” depicts Chinese migrants warming themselves by a fire after crossing the US-Mexico border, offering an intimate look at the realities of migration. Musuk Nolte’s “Droughts in the Amazon” captures a young man walking along the dry riverbed of the Solimões River in Brazil, a stark reminder of the region’s worsening water crisis.
Regional winners included images from across the globe, such as a stranded Boeing jet surrounded by floodwaters in Brazil and a Sudanese groom posing for a wedding portrait amid conflict in Omdurman. These photographs, along with Abu Elouf’s, will be part of a traveling exhibition opening in Amsterdam at De Nieuwe Kerk on April 18, before touring cities like London, Jakarta, Sydney, and Mexico City.
The Role of Photojournalism
The World Press Photo contest has long been a platform for visual storytelling, highlighting issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. This year’s winners underscore the power of photography to evoke empathy, spark dialogue, and bring global attention to pressing issues.
Abu Elouf’s portrait of Mahmoud Ajjour is a testament to the resilience of individuals caught in conflict and the enduring role of photojournalism in documenting their stories. As the image travels the world, it will continue to remind viewers of the human cost of war and the urgent need for peace.