Amputee Palestinian boy image wins World Press Photo award

GAZA, April 18 (YPA) – A portrait of a young Palestinian boy who lost both arms as a result of an Israeli attack in Gaza was honored Thursday as World Press Photo of the year.

The photo, taken by Qatar-based Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times shows 9-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour with his arms missing just below each shoulder.

“One of the most difficult things Mahmoud’s mother explained to me was how when Mahmoud first came to the realization that his arms were amputated, the first sentence he said to her was, ‘How will I be able to hug you?’” Abu Elouf said in a statement released by the World Press Photo organization.

This powerful image was selected from 59,320 entries submitted by 3,778 photographers from 141 countries.

“After he turned back to urge his family onward, an explosion severed one of his arms and mutilated the other,” according to the organization .

@E.Y.M