World Press Photo 2025, one of the most important international photojournalism competitions, has named Palestinian photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf as the winner of the Photo of the Year. The award was given to her for a deeply moving and powerful image: a portrait of a nine-year-old boy from Gaza who lost both arms in an Israeli attack. The photograph was taken for The New York Times and has become a symbol of the human tragedy of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
An image that speaks more than a thousand words
The winning image is not just a visual documentation – it is a living testimony of loss, pain and the power of survival, which transcends any cultural or political boundaries. In a silent and intimate moment, Samar Abu Elouf has captured the expression of wounded innocence – a child who is still a child, but who is already a witness and victim of war.
The World Press Photo judging panel emphasized that the photograph "not only represents the reality of the conflict, but goes beyond the fact of pain to reveal the humanity of a child in the midst of a great political tragedy."
A female voice from Gaza that will not be silenced
Samar Abu Elouf is no stranger to the world of photojournalism. She has been documenting life in Gaza for years – not just the war, but also everyday life, resistance, hope and women amidst the chaos. Known for her intimate and humane perspective, Abu Elouf has built a body of work that often places the human heart at the center of political and military reality.
In late 2023, due to the escalation of violence, she was evacuated from Gaza and currently lives in Doha, Qatar, near her subject, the little boy she portrayed in the winning photo. This personal connection and dedication to history makes her work even more special and authentic.
More than a photograph: An act of testimony
In an era when images circulate rapidly and lose their weight, Abu Elouf's photography restores the value of the image as evidence, as an act of witnessing and awareness. It forces us to stop, to see, and to feel – not as passive spectators, but as human beings.
“It’s not just a child who has lost their arms, it’s a whole generation that is growing up in ruins, in fear and in silence. I want to make that silence heard,” said Abu Elouf during her acceptance speech.
The award for Samar Abu Elouf is not just a professional accolade – it’s a recognition of the voices of women in conflict, their courage to bear witness to the truth, and the power of photography to change the way we see the world. At a time when news is polarizing and images are manipulated, she reminds us that the art of photography still has the power to awaken our conscience.
Source: https://apnews.com/
