A picture of Mahmoud Ajjour, 9, who was severely wounded in an Israeli strike, received the 2025 World Press Picture 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, concentrating on his house in March 2024.
At first, Ajjour, who hails from Gaza Metropolis’s outdated city, mentioned he didn’t realise he was wounded.
“I assumed 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 whole physique – Ajjour mentioned he regarded round and noticed his arms. Though they regarded acquainted, his mind nonetheless couldn’t comprehend that that they had 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 unhealthy.”
His psychological well being deteriorated additional when he, like many others in Gaza, needed to endure surgical procedure with out anaesthetics as a result of a extreme lack of medical provides. All through the struggle, Israeli forces have largely stored very important border crossings shut, stopping the entry of much-needed medical provides, in addition to food and different support, together with gasoline.
“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.”
‘Every part is tough’
Ajjour is considered one of hundreds of kids in Gaza who’re struggling life-changing accidents as a result of relentless, indiscriminate Israeli bombardment.
In accordance with the United Nations Kids’s Fund, greater than 10 kids 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 kids.
“Gaza now has the very best variety of kids amputees per capita anyplace on the planet – many dropping limbs and present process surgical procedures with out even anaesthesia,” UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres mentioned in December.
Ajjour is now studying to jot down, play video games on his cellphone, and costume himself utilizing his toes – however nonetheless wants particular help for many every day actions.
He now longs for the times when his arms have 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 thing is tough, together with feeding myself, serving to myself to the lavatory … however I attempt 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 struggle on Gaza”.
“We need to reside on our land. We don’t need the Israelis to take it,” he mentioned.
“Persons are dying there [in Gaza]. And my house was bombed. How may I reside like this?”
Israel’s ongoing assault on the besieged and bombarded territory has thus far killed greater than 51,000 Palestinians and wounded at the very least 116,505 others, in response to Gaza’s Ministry of Well being.
It has additionally forcibly displaced most of its 2.3 million robust inhabitants, ravaged many of the land, broken primary infrastructure and dismantled its already-struggling healthcare system.
