Muhammad Salam, a photographer for Reuters aged 39, has been honored with the first World Press Photo Prize for 2024.
His photograph, captured in the Gaza Strip, depicts a woman embracing the shrouded body of a child. The award ceremony took place in Amsterdam.
The poignant image was captured on October 17, 2023, at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. It portrays 36-year-old Inas Abu Maamar mourning over the body of her five-year-old niece, Sally.
"Muhammad graciously accepts the award. He views the photo not as a cause for celebration, but as an opportunity to share a powerful story with a wide audience," stated Ricky Rogers, editor-in-chief of the agency's photo and video department, during the ceremony.
The World Press Photo statement highlights the tragic toll of military operations in the Gaza Strip, where 99 journalists and media workers lost their lives.
"Taken with compassion and reverence, the photograph serves as both a symbolic and literal representation of an unfathomable loss," noted the jury.
