A Boy’s Plight in Gaza

The winner of the prestigious World Press Photo of the year has been announced, and it is a powerful image that captures the human cost of war. The photo, taken by Qatar-based Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times, shows a young boy with his arms missing, just below each shoulder. The image is a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of conflict and the resilience of the human spirit. “How will I be able to hug you?”
One of the most difficult things for the boy’s mother explained to Samar Abu Elouf was when her son first realized his arms were missing. As Abu Elouf described in a statement released by the World Press Photo organization, the boy’s first words to his mother were, “How will I be able to hug you?” This heart-wrenching statement highlights the depth of emotional pain and the devastating impact of war on a young child’s life.

A Difficult Decision

The winner of the 68th edition of the prestigious photojournalism contest was selected from 59,320 entries submitted by 3,778 photographers from 141 countries. This was not an easy decision, as the judges had to choose from an incredible array of images that captured the complexity and depth of the world’s most pressing issues.

• More than 50,000 photos were submitted from all over the world
• Photographers from 141 countries participated in the contest
• The judges had to sift through an enormous amount of entries to choose the winner

A Story of Resilience

This young boy, Mahmoud Ajjour, was injured while fleeing an Israeli attack in March 2024. The World Press Photo citation states that after he turned back to urge his family onward, an explosion severed one of his arms and mutilated the other. Despite this traumatic event, Mahmoud’s mother explained to Samar Abu Elouf that her son’s resilience was a source of strength, not weakness.

“Mahmoud’s mother said, ‘The first thing he asked me was, ‘How will I be able to hug you?’ He was worried about his ability to show affection, but he was also worried about the impact on his family. He was worried about the impact on us.'” – Samar Abu Elouf, World Press Photo

A Champion of the Environment

Competition organizers also named two World Press Photo finalists that highlighted the issues of migration and climate change. A dark photo by John Moore for Getty Images shows Chinese migrants warming themselves after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. A picture by Musuk Nolte for Panos Pictures, Bertha Foundation, of a young man carrying food across a dried up river bed in Brazil’s Amazon basin region, also highlighted the devastating impact of climate change.

Awards and Recognition

The winner of the prestigious photojournalism contest was selected from 59,320 entries submitted by 3,778 photographers from 141 countries. The World Press Photo organization said that Ajjour was injured while fleeing an Israeli attack in March 2024.

A Message of Hope

This powerful image captures the human cost of war and the resilience of the human spirit. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. As the World Press Photo organization said, “This is a quiet photo that speaks loudly.