World Press Photo Reveals Its ‘Photo of the Year’: A Boy Injured in Israeli Strike on Gaza

July 05, 2025: The World Press Photo Foundation has announced its prestigious Photo of the Year award, and this year’s winner is a powerful, harrowing image of a young boy injured in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza.

A Moment of Raw Humanity

The winning photograph was taken by Doha-based Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times. It captures the heartbreaking scene of Mahmoud Ajjour, a young boy who was critically injured while fleeing an Israeli attack on Gaza City in March 2024. His bloodied and dust-covered face, frozen in a moment of pain and fear, has become a symbol of the innocent lives devastated by conflict.

Image Credit: Samar Abu Elouf for the New York Times

Selected from Thousands of Entries

The image was chosen from a highly competitive pool of the 2025 World Press Photo Contest winners, announced earlier in March. Judges praised the photo not only for its powerful visual storytelling but also for its ability to convey the deep human cost of war in a single frame.

Sparking Global Conversation

Since its release, the photograph has ignited conversations around the world, bringing renewed focus to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The World Press Photo Foundation highlighted that this award isn’t just about artistic excellence — it’s about amplifying the voices and struggles that too often remain unheard.

This year’s winning image stands as a raw and painful reminder of war’s innocent victims — and the resilience captured through the lens of courageous journalism.