A picture of Mahmoud Ajjour, 9, who was severely wounded in an Israeli strike, received the 2025 World Press Photograph of the Yr award.
A Palestinian baby 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 Photograph of the Yr award, says he has been struggling to adapt to life since shedding 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, stated 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 critical wounds – wounds that mutilated his complete physique – Ajjour stated he appeared round and noticed his arms. Though they appeared 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 unhealthy.”
His psychological well being deteriorated additional when he, like many others in Gaza, needed to bear surgical procedure with out anaesthetics as a consequence of a extreme lack of medical provides. All through the struggle, Israeli forces have largely stored important border crossings shut, stopping the entry of much-needed medical provides, in addition to meals and different support, together with gas.
“They carried out surgical procedure on me whereas I used to be awake,” Ajjour stated, 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 certainly one of 1000’s of youngsters in Gaza who’re struggling life-changing accidents as a consequence of relentless, indiscriminate Israeli bombardment.
In line 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 wherever on this planet – many shedding limbs and present process surgical procedures with out even anaesthesia,” UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres stated in December.
Ajjour is now studying to write down, play video games on his telephone, and gown himself utilizing his ft – however nonetheless wants particular help for many every day actions.
Ajjour drinks water whereas preparing for varsity, in Doha, Qatar (Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters)
He now longs for the times when his arms have been nonetheless intact.
Earlier than the assault, Ajjour stated 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 strive my greatest,” he stated. “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 stay on our land. We don’t need the Israelis to take it,” he stated.
“Persons are dying there (in Gaza). And my dwelling was bombed. How might I stay 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 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.
