Day: April 17, 2025

PALESTINIAN Samar Abu Elouf Wins World Press Photo of the Year

The award-winning image captures nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour, who lost both arms in an Israeli attack on Gaza, and is now learning to adapt to life in Qatar.

A photograph of nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour, a Palestinian child injured in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City in March 2024, has been named World Press Photo of the Year by the World Press Photo Foundation. The image, taken by Palestinian photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times, offers a harrowing glimpse into the long-term impact of genocide on Palestinian children.

The photograph shows Mahmoud in a clinical setting in Doha, Qatar, where he was evacuated for medical care after losing one arm and suffering severe injuries to the other during an Israeli airstrike. The explosion struck after Mahmoud reportedly turned back to urge others to flee. Since undergoing treatment, he has begun to learn how to use his feet for basic tasks such as writing, playing games on his phone, and opening doors. He still requires support for daily activities such as eating and dressing. His aspiration, the photo caption notes, is simple: to receive prosthetic arms and live as any other child would.

The World Press Photo jury praised the image for its emotional weight and clarity, describing it as “a portrait that speaks to the long-term cost of war, the silences that perpetuate violence, and the role of journalism in exposing these realities.” The jury highlighted how the photo doesn’t flinch from documenting the physical toll of conflict while also humanising the statistics that often dominate war reporting.

The broader context of the photograph adds to its urgency. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), by the end of 2024, Gaza had more child amputees per capita than any other place in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that by March 2025, over 7,000 injured Palestinians had been evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment, while more than 11,000 critically wounded individuals remained in the Strip, awaiting transfer. Qatar, which has developed its healthcare system in recent years, played a central role in facilitating these evacuations, alongside Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey.

The winning photo forms part of the annual World Press Photo Contest, which celebrates outstanding photojournalism and documentary photography from around the globe. Two other Arab photojournalists were recognised during the World Press Photo Contest: Palestinian photojournalist Ali Jadallah was recognized for his stark documentation of the aftermath of Israel’s invasion of Gaza, while Sudanese photographer, Mosab Abushama offers a jarring juxtaposition of violence and celebration with his photo of a groom at his wedding with a rifle in the background.

source/content: cairoscene.com (headline edited)

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PALESTINE

MOROCCAN Iconic Artist Naima Samih Dies at 71

The celebrated vocalist started her singing career in the 1970s, contributing to Morocco’s musical heritage.

Renowned Moroccan singer Naima Samih died early Saturday morning at the age of 71 following a prolonged period of illness.

The deceased left  behind a significant legacy in Moroccan musical culture.

Born in Casablanca in 1954, Samih earned a prestigious position and popularity in Morocco and the Arab world because of her sweet voice and delicate sensibility. 

While Moroccans mourn the death of the iconic singer, fellow Moroccan artists have paid tribute to the musical icon.

Latifa Raafat wrote on her Facebook, “We share in mourning the departure of the lady of Moroccan music, the dear one who will never be forgotten, Lalla Naima Samih.

The celebrated vocalist started her singing career in the 1970s, contributing to the musical heritage of the country.

Samih’s true breakthrough came through talent discovery programs broadcast on Moroccan radio and television. Her first appearance was on “Lucky Thursday” (Khamis Al-Hazz), followed by her participation in the competition program “Talents” (Mawahib).

The artist’s journey to becoming a musical icon wasn’t without obstacles. Her father was initially reluctant to allow her to enter the world of singing, as was common for most fathers during that era.

He only consented after the intervention of influential media figures. But he insisted that his daughter should only perform modern songs and be selective in choosing quality poets and composers.

The young artist quickly rose to prominence in Morocco’s music scene, establishing herself as a leading figure alongside Abdelhadi Belkhayat and Abdelouahab Doukkali.

Through her musical and poetic choices, Samih developed a unique identity that resonated with modern song audiences in Morocco.

She collaborated with composers known for their dedication to incorporating traditional Moroccan rhythms into modern templates (including Abdelkader Rachdi, Abdelkader Wahbi, and Ahmed Alaoui), as well as with prominent zajal poets who adapted local dialects to achieve sophisticated expressiveness (such as Ahmed Tayeb Alj and Ali Haddani).

Among the late artist’s most important musical works were the songs “Jari Ya Jari” (My Neighbor, Oh My Neighbor), “Yak A Jarhi” (Oh My Wound), and “Amri Lillah” (My Life is for God).

These beloved classics helped establish her as a pillar of Moroccan musical heritage and left a stamp in the souls of her era’s Moroccans.


In the early 1970s, Samih married Moroccan cycling champion Mustafa Belkayed. The couple had one son named Shams.

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)

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MOROCCO