A heart-wrenching photograph of a Palestinian woman, Inas Abu Maamar, has won the prestigious 2024 World Press Photo of the Year Award. The image was taken by Mohammed Salem from Reuters news agency and shows Inas cradling the body of her five-year-old niece, Saly, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on October 17, 2023. The photograph was taken at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis where Inas had gone to identify the bodies of her loved ones.
The image captures Inas's raw emotion as she holds Saly's body tightly, refusing to let go even when asked by doctors. The photograph is a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and conflict, especially on children.
Mohammed Salem took the photograph while covering the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza. He had gone to Nasser hospital to document the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike when he came across Inas grieving over her niece's body. Saly, along with her mother and sister, were killed when a missile hit their home.
The photograph has been widely praised for its emotional impact and ability to capture the human cost of war. It is a powerful reminder of the need for peace and an end to conflict.
Inas Abu Maamar's photograph was chosen from over 61,000 entries by a jury of international photojournalists. The award ceremony took place in Amsterdam on April 18, 2024.
The World Press Photo Award is an annual competition that recognizes the best photojournalism from around the world. It is considered one of the most prestigious awards in photojournalism and has been running since 1955.
Other winners of the 2024 World Press Photo Awards include Lee-Ann Olwage for Story of the Year, Alejandro Cegarra for Long-Term Project Award, and Julia Kochetova for Open Format Award.
