A picture of Mahmoud Ajjour, 9, who was severely wounded in an Israeli strike, received the 2025 World Press Photograph of the 12 months award.
A Palestinian youngster who was severely wounded in an Israeli drone assault on Gaza final yr, and who was pictured in a picture that received the 2025 World Press Photo of the 12 months award, says he has been struggling to adapt to life since dropping each his arms within the explosion.
Talking to Al Jazeera from Doha, Qatar, the place he has been receiving therapy, nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour recalled the second the bomb exploded, focusing on his dwelling in March 2024.
At first, Ajjour, who hails from Gaza Metropolis’s previous city, mentioned he didn’t realise he was wounded.
“I believed I had merely fallen. However I discovered myself on the bottom, exhausted, and questioning what had occurred,” he advised Al Jazeera.
In actuality, one arm “flew off, and one flew and fell proper beside me”, he added.
Nonetheless unaware that he had sustained severe wounds – wounds that mutilated his complete physique – Ajjour mentioned he seemed round and noticed his arms. Though they seemed acquainted, his mind nonetheless couldn’t comprehend that they’d been blown off.
“My mom then advised me that I misplaced my arms,” Ajjour recalled. “I began crying. I used to be very unhappy, and my psychological state was very dangerous.”
His psychological well being deteriorated additional when he, like many others in Gaza, needed to endure surgical procedure with out anaesthetics attributable to a extreme lack of medical provides. All through the warfare, Israeli forces have largely saved important border crossings shut, stopping the entry of much-needed medical provides, in addition to food and different support, together with gas.
“They carried out surgical procedure on me whereas I used to be awake,” Ajjour mentioned, the shock nonetheless evident in his voice.
“I couldn’t bear the ache, I used to be screaming very loud. My voice stuffed the hallways.”
‘All the things is tough’
Ajjour is one in every of 1000’s of kids in Gaza who’re struggling life-changing accidents attributable to relentless, indiscriminate Israeli bombardment.
In keeping with the United Nations Kids’s Fund, greater than 10 youngsters every day have misplaced one or each of their legs since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched its ongoing genocide in Gaza.
That’s greater than 1,000 youngsters.
“Gaza now has the very best variety of youngsters amputees per capita wherever on this planet – many dropping limbs and present process surgical procedures with out even anaesthesia,” UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres mentioned in December.
Ajjour is now studying to put in writing, play video games on his cellphone, and costume himself utilizing his ft – however nonetheless wants particular help for many day by day actions.
He now longs for the times when his arms had been nonetheless intact.
Earlier than the assault, Ajjour mentioned he used to go to the market and purchase his mom greens and meals she wanted.
“Now, every little thing is tough, together with feeding myself, serving to myself to the toilet … however I strive my greatest,” he mentioned. “I handle my life like this. I make it work.”
Ajjour goals of a future the place he can return to Gaza and assist rebuild the devastated enclave.
He hopes the world can “finish the warfare on Gaza”.
“We need to dwell on our land. We don’t need the Israelis to take it,” he mentioned.
“Persons are dying there [in Gaza]. And my dwelling was bombed. How might I dwell like this?”
Israel’s ongoing assault on the besieged and bombarded territory has thus far killed greater than 51,000 Palestinians and wounded no less than 116,505 others, in line with Gaza’s Ministry of Well being.
It has additionally forcibly displaced most of its 2.3 million sturdy inhabitants, ravaged many of the land, broken primary infrastructure and dismantled its already-struggling healthcare system.
