The recipient of the esteemed World Press Photo of the Year title is an image depicting a Palestinian woman heartbreakingly embracing the lifeless body of her 5-year-old niece who was killed by “Israel” in Gaza.
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Photo of Inas Abu Maamar, 36, on 17 October at the morgue in Nasser hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis (Reuters/photographer Mohammed Salem)
A photograph capturing a Palestinian woman cradling the lifeless body of her 5-year-old niece, Saly, following her killing in an Israeli airstrike, has been awarded the title of World Press Photo of the Year.
The photograph was captured by Reuters photographer Mohammed Salem on October 17 at Nasser Hospital’s morgue in Khan Younis, a southern city in Gaza. It portrays Inas Abu Maamar, 36, in a moment of profound sorrow.
A grieving woman’s unyielding embrace
The jury of the World Press Photo Foundation in Amsterdam praised the photograph for its meticulous composition and compassionate portrayal, describing it as providing both a symbolic and direct view into the profound depths of grief and loss.
The image was “composed with care and respect, offering at once a metaphorical and literal glimpse into unimaginable loss,” as per the jury.
The World Press Photo of the Year is ‘A Palestinian Woman Embraces the Body of Her Niece’ by @msalem66, @Reuters.
The jury was deeply moved by how this image evokes an emotional reflection in every viewer and offers a glimpse into unimaginable loss.https://t.co/claLIzX1vO pic.twitter.com/jii2r1Pam5
— World Press Photo (@WorldPressPhoto) April 18, 2024
Salem, a 39-year-old Palestinian who has been with Reuters since 2003, said in November, “I felt the picture sums up the broader sense of what was happening in the Gaza Strip.”
“People were confused, running from one place to another, anxious to know the fate of their loved ones, and this woman caught my eye as she was holding the body of the little girl and refused to let go.”
It is worth noting that Save the Children reported earlier this month that “Israel” has inflicted an unprecedented toll on children in Gaza, with a staggering number of Palestinian children—over 13,800—falling victim to killings and injuries.
Meanwhile, the occupied West Bank, including al-Quds, has also witnessed significant casualties, with at least 725 children injured and 114 killed by Israeli occupation forces since October 7.
Read more: In 195 days only: 33,970 killed, 76,770 injured in Gaza
