'If this photo can't change the world, why are we photographers?': Palestinian photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf on her 2025 World Press Photo win

Palestinian photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf’s face glistened with tears as she stood beneath the arches of De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, gazing at the photograph that had earned her global recognition.

The image, chosen from over 59,320 entries submitted by 3,778 photojournalists worldwide, was not just a winning photo but a statement from a place enduring immense hardship: Gaza.

Standing in front of her photograph, Samar spoke in Arabic, sharing a message that resonated across languages: “I truly hope this photo can change the world or stop the war. And if it cannot… why are we even photographers today?”

Her words were translated by Taghreed El-Khodary, a fellow Palestinian journalist, ensuring the message reached everyone in the room.

Among those present was Joumana El Zein Khoury, Executive Director of the World Press Photo Foundation. Originally from Lebanon, Joumana was visibly moved by Samar’s speech, a reminder of the shared understanding among those who recognise the power of visual storytelling.

A tribute to a friend and colleague

Samar began her speech at the World Press Photo ceremony not by introducing herself, but by holding up a photo of her close friend and colleague, Ihab Al-Burdaini.

A Palestinian photojournalist from Gaza, Ihab, had been critically injured by an Israeli airstrike that hit a press tent in Khan Younis on 7 April.

Her voice trembled as she shared the painful news with the audience: "My joy is incomplete. One of my dearest friends, photojournalist Ihab Al-Burdaini, was injured in Khan Younis. I do not want to lose him. I do not want him to come back this way.

"It is hard for me to stand here today. It is hard to celebrate when a piece of shrapnel — a bullet, a fragment of a rocket — is in his head. He is in a coma. He has lost one of his eyes.

"There is no medical treatment available inside Gaza. Hospitals are bombed, crossings are closed, and food is scarce. He cannot leave Gaza to receive the treatment he desperately needs.

Tears streamed down her face as she continued: “Speaking about him today — this is the least I can do. I want him to see his loved ones again. I hope he receives the help he deserves.”

'How will I hug you now?'

When Samar finally introduced herself to the audience, her voice was filled with emotion: “My name is Samar Abu Elouf. I am a photojournalist from Gaza City, and I work with The New York Times as a freelancer. Given the tragic situation my family continues to face in Gaza, I find it hard to feel much joy.”

She went on, remembering her family back in Gaza: “It has been a very difficult time for me to be far from them. I miss them so much and wish they could have shared this moment with me. I dream of being reunited with them.”

Turning to the photograph that had captured global attention, Samar spoke about the subject of her haunting image, Mahmoud.

“I was nervous when I first met Mahmoud. My heart was heavy. I didn’t know how to approach photographing him. What mattered most to me was to listen to him and understand what he had been through,” Samar shared.

Reflecting on a heartbreaking moment, Samar recalled what Mahmoud’s mother had told her: “Right after he was injured, Mahmoud asked me to run for safety with his sister and leave him behind, thinking he was going to die. But I refused to leave him. When he woke up, one of the first things he asked was, ‘How will I hug you now?’”

Looking ahead, Samar shared that Mahmoud now dreams of receiving prosthetic limbs to ease the pain from his injury. “He hopes to regain some sense of normalcy, but his prosthetics will need to be replaced as his body continues to grow — a constant reminder of his struggles and resilience.”

Changing the world through photography 

For many, Samar’s emotional speech conveyed not only the human cost of war but also the incredible strength of the human spirit captured in her photo.

As Samar stood before her award-winning photograph at the ceremony, a moment she had long dreamed of, she spoke with a mix of pride and sadness: “This award means everything to me,” she said, her voice heavy. “But it’s a bittersweet moment because I’m far from Gaza and my family. I wish they could be here to share in this joy with me.”

Her words carried the weight of her experience as a photojournalist: “Documenting the lives of wounded Palestinians was both an honour and a painful experience. Many have lost limbs, families, and hope. The children, orphaned and left behind, heal without their parents by their side.”

Samar stressed that her recognition was not just for her work, but for the importance of telling these untold stories: “I hope my work can raise awareness of the suffering in Gaza, especially the children like Mahmoud, who lost both arms in an airstrike while fleeing his home. His dream now is to receive prosthetics to help him lead a better life.”

Samar’s commitment to her craft was clear as she spoke about Mahmoud’s journey, saying, "I hope he receives the treatment he needs, and that my photographs will help change the world — or at the very least, stop the war."

Grateful for the honour, she thanked the World Press Photo committee, saying, "This recognition isn’t just for me — it’s for the countless voices that remain unheard, for those living with the scars of war. I hope that my work will draw more attention to their suffering and the resilience of Gaza's people."

A dual honour

On the same day, Samar received the prestigious OPC Award for her work with The New York Times, winning the Olivier Rebbot Award for best photographic news reporting from abroad in any medium, specifically for her coverage of Gaza.

The judges praised her work, saying: “The quality of the images is exceptional. Abu Elouf’s sensitive and wrenching portraits capture the unimaginable cost of the war on human lives, especially children. These photographs are not just a testament to the resilience of the human spirit but also a reminder of the devastating consequences of conflict.”

Reflecting on her achievements, Samar said: “When I was in Gaza, I truly wanted to capture an image that could change the world or stop the war. Today, that goal remains the same — to bring this message to the world. The most important thing to me, beyond all the awards, is that the war stops. My heart and mind are with my family in Gaza, not here in Amsterdam. I hope the war ends, for their sake and the sake of all those suffering.”

Joumana highlighted the power of the image, describing it as “silent yet deeply compelling.”

She added: “It captures the story of one boy, but also speaks to the broader, devastating consequences of a war that will leave scars on generations to come.”

The award organisers also noted Mahmoud’s simple but profound wish: “He dreams of receiving prosthetic limbs so he can live a life like any other child.”

In a show of solidarity, Samar has supported a fundraising campaign to provide Mahmoud with the prosthetics he urgently needs, going beyond her role as a photojournalist to directly impact the lives of those she photographs.

Standing with Joumana and Taghreed, Samar ended her speech with a moving reflection: “If this photo can’t change the world, then why do we capture these moments? I want this photo to make a difference. I want it to bring an end to this war. If it can’t, then what is the purpose of our work?” 

'How long will this holocaust continue?'

Alongside Samar's work, Palestinian photographer Ali Jadallah’s powerful series, Gaza Under Israeli Attack, was also featured at the exhibition, with his haunting images continuing to capture the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

One German guest, Natalie, who had attended specifically to see Ali’s work, expressed her sorrow: “How long will this holocaust continue?”

Calling for an end to the genocide, she added, "What happened in history to the Jews is happening again now, and I am ashamed of this. But it must end."

Natalie also explained why she was present: “I came here specifically for Gaza’s work. Last year, I attended the exhibition when Mohammed Salem’s photograph A Palestinian Woman Embraces the Body of Her Niece was shown. It affected me deeply. And now, once again, I find myself here. Will we continue to witness massacres against Palestinians year after year in the World Press Photo exhibition?”

Her voice trembled with emotion as she reflected on the endless suffering of the Palestinian people — a suffering that repeats year after year while the world watches in silence.

For the consecutive year, Gaza's ongoing suffering has dominated the prestigious World Press Photo's 'Photo of the Year' award.

Photographers continue to highlight the voices of their people, especially in the West, where their stories resonate most, overshadowing the work of photographers from around the world.

Mouneb Taim is a producer and journalist from Damascus, Syria. He was awarded TPOTY's Photographer of the Year and ICFJ's Best Young Male Journalist in 2020