Photo of boy from Gaza wins World Press Photo of 2025

A portrait of a young amputee from Gaza has won the World Press Photo award for the year 2025. 

The portrait, taken by Doha-based Palestinian photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf for the New York Times, is titled "Mahmoud Ajjour, Aged Nine". 

Elouf, who was evacuated from Gaza to Qatar in December 2023, took the picture of Mahmoud Ajjour on 28 June 2024, when Ajjar was receiving medical treatment in Doha after losing both his arms in an Israeli air strike on Gaza City in March 2024. 

This year’s contest received at least 59,000 submissions from photographers in 141 countries. The winner and two finalists were announced on Thursday, during the press opening of the World Press Photo Exhibition in Amsterdam. 

The exhibition will travel to 60 venues around the world. 

The #WPPh2025 Photo of the Year is ‘Mahmoud Ajjour, Aged Nine’ by @samarabuelouf, for @nytimes. The jury was moved by this portrait of a Palestinian boy which speaks to the devastating long-term costs of war on civilians. Read more: https://t.co/KHmkUjt2Rj pic.twitter.com/QP3lqEBWaR

— World Press Photo (@WorldPressPhoto) April 17, 2025