World Press Photo has announced the winner of the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year, along with two finalists from the prestigious annual competition, celebrating the best in photojournalism and documentary photography. The winning image, captured by Doha-based Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf, tells the heart-wrenching story of a young boy whose life was forever changed by the violence of war.
The photograph, published by The New York Times, shows Mahmoud Ajjour, a child who was severely injured while fleeing an Israeli attack in Gaza City in March 2024. Mahmoud was running to safety with his family when he turned back to urge them onward, only to be caught in an explosion that severed one of his arms and left the other mutilated. The attack, which took place amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, is part of a broader tragedy that has left countless children bearing the physical and emotional scars of war.
Since being evacuated from Gaza, Mahmoud has been living in Doha, Qatar, where he is receiving medical treatment and adjusting to a new way of life. In her ongoing work, Abu Elouf has documented Mahmoud’s journey, alongside other young survivors of the conflict, as they struggle to rebuild their lives after such traumatic experiences. Mahmoud, now learning to navigate the world with his feet and dream of prosthetics, represents not just one child’s suffering but the overwhelming toll that war has taken on Gaza’s youngest generation. According to the United Nations, by December 2024, Gaza was projected to have the highest number of child amputees per capita anywhere in the world.
The winning image was praised by World Press Photo’s Executive Director, Joumana El Zein Khoury, who remarked, “This is a quiet photo that speaks loudly. It tells the story of one boy, but also of a wider war that will have an impact for generations.” Reflecting on the 70th anniversary of World Press Photo, Khoury added, “Looking at our archive, I am confronted by too many images like this one… I remain endlessly grateful for the photographers who, despite the personal risks and emotional costs, record these stories to give all of us the opportunity to understand, empathise, and be inspired to action.”
The image of Mahmoud captures the human cost of war in a way that words cannot, urging the world to confront the devastating realities faced by children in conflict zones. As World Press Photo looks toward the next 70 years, the organization remains dedicated to supporting photographers who continue to risk everything to share the truth with the world.
The World Press Photo Exhibition 2025 will take place at MPB Gallery, Here East, London from 23rd May – 25th Aug. Tickets available here: TicketTailor or visit: theexhibitionists.co.uk
