A Picture That Moved the World Wins 2025 Press Photo of the Year

A Powerful Portrait of Resilience Captures Global Attention and Reveals the Human Cost of War Through the Eyes of a Young Boy

In a world flooded with images, some photos do more than just capture a moment—they tell a story that sticks with us forever. That’s exactly what happened with the haunting portrait of 9-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour, a young Palestinian boy from Gaza who lost both of his arms in an Israeli airstrike. The powerful image, taken by Palestinian photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf, has just been named the World Press Photo of the Year for 2025, and it’s easy to see why.

A Story Behind the Eyes

Mahmoud’s portrait isn’t just a photograph—it’s a window into the unimaginable. The image was taken in Doha, Qatar, where Mahmoud was evacuated for medical treatment. In the photo, his soft, solemn expression says more than words ever could. You don’t need to know his story to feel something when you look at him—but once you do know it, the impact deepens.

According to the World Press Photo organization, Mahmoud was fleeing an Israeli strike in Gaza with his family when he paused to look back, urging his loved ones to move faster. In that moment, an explosion tore through their path. One of his arms was severed instantly. The other was so badly injured that doctors later had to amputate it.

A powerful portrait of 9-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour from Gaza, who lost both arms in an Israeli airstrike, won the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year.

Taken by Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf, Ajjour spoke to Al Jazeera about rebuilding his life and returning home.#Gaza pic.twitter.com/XVNPwedCgr

— Beyond Wars (@BeyondWars) April 19, 2025

In the heartbreaking aftermath, one of Mahmoud’s first questions to his mother was: “How will I be able to hug you?” That single sentence encapsulates the quiet tragedy so many children in Gaza are living through right now.

More Than Just One Child’s Story

Mahmoud is far from alone. According to UNICEF and local health officials, over 1,000 children in Gaza have undergone amputations since October 7, 2023—many without anesthesia, due to the destruction of the region’s healthcare system. Over 51,000 people have been killed in Gaza during the ongoing conflict, with thousands of children dead or left orphaned.

In this context, Mahmoud’s portrait becomes more than just a news image. It represents an entire generation of children whose lives have been irreversibly changed.

The Photographer Behind the Lens

Samar Abu Elouf, who also fled Gaza and is now in Doha, captured Mahmoud’s portrait for The New York Times. She has spent years documenting life in Gaza, but she said that Mahmoud’s story was one of the hardest she’s ever told.

“When Mahmoud came to the realization that his arms were amputated,” she shared, “the first thing he said to his mother was, ‘How will I be able to hug you?’” That sentence shook her—as it has shaken many around the world.

The power of Abu Elouf’s image lies in its quiet dignity. Mahmoud doesn’t cry in the photo. He doesn’t scream. He just looks, and in that look is a thousand stories—of pain, resilience, and hope.

A Glimpse of Hope in Tragedy

Now in Doha, Mahmoud is adapting to his new reality. He needs help with basic things—eating, dressing, moving around—but he’s not giving up. According to the World Press Photo organization, Mahmoud is learning how to use his feet for everyday tasks like opening doors, writing, and even playing games on his phone.

He dreams of getting prosthetic arms. It’s a dream shared by many other children in Gaza, who are trying to rebuild their lives one step at a time.

Why This Photo Matters

In a world where headlines come and go in an instant, some images remind us to stop and feel. Mahmoud’s portrait is one of those rare, soul-stirring moments of truth. It doesn’t take sides. It doesn’t shout. It simply shows us what war does—not just to cities and buildings, but to children, to families, to futures.

It’s a picture of loss, yes. But also of love. Of survival. Of the quiet strength of a 9-year-old boy who just wanted to help his family—and now has to learn how to hug again.

And that’s why the world is watching.