Latest news with #OmarAl-Qattaa
France 24
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
AFP Gaza photographers shortlisted for Pulitzer Prize
The jury for the award, presented on Monday by Columbia University in New York, praised the "powerful images" from Gaza by Mahmud Hams, Omar Al-Qattaa, Said Khatib and Bashar Taleb. The AFP photographers' work encapsulated "the enduring humanity of the people of Gaza amid widespread destruction and loss," they said. The Pulitzer nomination crowns an exceptional year for Hams, who also won the News award at the Visa pour l'Image festival in Perpignan and the Bayeux Calvados Prize for war correspondents -- two of the most prestigious international awards in photojournalism. AFP has provided uninterrupted coverage of the war in Gaza since 2023, when Hamas launched its attack against Israel on October 7, with teams on both sides of the border to guarantee rigorous and impartial information. AFP's local journalists are working in perilous conditions in Gaza to document the consequences of the war on civilians. Since the start of the war, virtually no journalist has been able to cross into Gaza, which borders Israel and Egypt. "This recognition is a tribute not only to the talent and bravery of these photographers, but also to AFP's steadfast commitment to documenting events with accuracy and integrity, wherever they unfold," Phil Chetwynd, AFP's global news director, said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful to Mahmud, Omar, Said, and Bashar, whose work gives voice to those caught in the heart of the conflict," he added.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AFP Gaza photographers shortlisted for Pulitzer Prize
Four Palestinian photographers from Agence France-Presse (AFP) were finalists for their Gaza coverage in the "Breaking News Photography" category of the Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious awards in US journalism. The jury for the award, presented on Monday by Columbia University in New York, praised the "powerful images" from Gaza by Mahmud Hams, Omar Al-Qattaa, Said Khatib and Bashar Taleb. The AFP photographers' work encapsulated "the enduring humanity of the people of Gaza amid widespread destruction and loss," they said. The Pulitzer nomination crowns an exceptional year for Hams, who also won the News award at the Visa pour l'Image festival in Perpignan and the Bayeux Calvados Prize for war correspondents -- two of the most prestigious international awards in photojournalism. AFP has provided uninterrupted coverage of the war in Gaza since 2023, when Hamas launched its attack against Israel on October 7, with teams on both sides of the border to guarantee rigorous and impartial information. AFP's local journalists are working in perilous conditions in Gaza to document the consequences of the war on civilians. Since the start of the war, virtually no journalist has been able to cross into Gaza, which borders Israel and Egypt. "This recognition is a tribute not only to the talent and bravery of these photographers, but also to AFP's steadfast commitment to documenting events with accuracy and integrity, wherever they unfold," Phil Chetwynd, AFP's global news director, said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful to Mahmud, Omar, Said, and Bashar, whose work gives voice to those caught in the heart of the conflict," he added. bur-ecb-dhw/jm
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
AFP Gaza photographers shortlisted for Pulitzer Prize
Photographers for AFP were Pulitzer Prize finalist for their work from Gaza, including this image by Mahmud Hams (Mahmud Hams) (Mahmud Hams/AFP/AFP) Four Palestinian photographers from Agence France-Presse (AFP) were finalists for their Gaza coverage in the "Breaking News Photography" category of the Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious awards in US journalism. The jury for the award, presented on Monday by Columbia University in New York, praised the "powerful images" from Gaza by Mahmud Hams, Omar Al-Qattaa, Said Khatib and Bashar Taleb. The AFP photographers' work encapsulated "the enduring humanity of the people of Gaza amid widespread destruction and loss," they said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Pulitzer nomination crowns an exceptional year for Hams, who also won the News award at the Visa pour l'Image festival in Perpignan and the Bayeux Calvados Prize for war correspondents -- two of the most prestigious international awards in photojournalism. AFP has provided uninterrupted coverage of the war in Gaza since 2023, when Hamas launched its attack against Israel on October 7, with teams on both sides of the border to guarantee rigorous and impartial information. AFP's local journalists are working in perilous conditions in Gaza to document the consequences of the war on civilians. Since the start of the war, virtually no journalist has been able to cross into Gaza, which borders Israel and Egypt. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "This recognition is a tribute not only to the talent and bravery of these photographers, but also to AFP's steadfast commitment to documenting events with accuracy and integrity, wherever they unfold," Phil Chetwynd, AFP's global news director, said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful to Mahmud, Omar, Said, and Bashar, whose work gives voice to those caught in the heart of the conflict," he added. bur-ecb-dhw/jm
Scotsman
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Why Israel must let food and medicine into Gaza for its own sake
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I would not particularly describe myself as a friend of Israel or the Palestinians. In the ongoing conflict, my sympathies are with the inhabitants of a village in Israel called Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom, which means 'Oasis of Peace' in Arabic and Hebrew. It was created as 'an intentional community of Palestinian and Jewish citizens of Israel dedicated to justice, peace and equality in the country and the region'. That it is relatively small and sometimes attracts condemnation from both sides does not matter, they are still right. It is possible for people to live together in peace, regardless of differences of religion or ethnicity, and it is important for someone to keep saying this, amid all the bloodshed, hatred and grief. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, I recognise that Israel has been, for decades, in a tough situation, surrounded by hostile states. So after the horrific October 7 attack – in which innocent, unarmed civilians, including babies, children and people in their 90s, were murdered and young women were raped near the bodies of their dead friends – I understood why Israel had no choice but to attack Hamas and the other terrorist groups involved. I also realised, horrifyingly, that this would mean large numbers of civilian casualties in Gaza. A young Palestinian boy sits amid the debris of a bombed building in Gaza City in March (Picture: Omar Al-Qattaa) | AFP via Getty Images Hamas threatened repeat of October 7 This may have been part of Hamas's calculations. They certainly knew that Israel would respond and clearly hoped any overreaction would bring others, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran, into the fight. Hamas threats to launch similar attacks appeared designed to force Israel's hand. I almost felt ashamed that I thought this was necessary but, still, in my opinion then, it was. Over the next 18 months, tens of thousands of people have been killed in Gaza, from a baby just a few hours old to a man aged 101. During that time, I moved away from supporting Israel's right to defend itself to believing they were going too far, killing too many innocent people, but I stayed silent. I cannot any longer. I don't particularly want to write this article, but almost feel compelled to do so. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Since March 2, Israel has blockaded Gaza, preventing food, medicine and other aid from entering. Last week, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz made an utterly chilling statement: 'Israel's policy is clear: no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza, and blocking this aid is one of the main pressure levers preventing Hamas from using it as a tool with the population.' Gaza turned into 'mass grave' According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 'intensive military operations, displacement orders, the blockade on the entry of all aid and commercial supplies, and shrinking humanitarian space are driving what is likely the worst humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip since October 2023'. According to Amande Bazerolle, Gaza emergency coordinator for medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières, "Gaza has been turned into a mass grave of Palestinians and those coming to their assistance'. 'We are witnessing in real time the destruction and forced displacement of the entire population in Gaza,' Bazerolle said. 'With nowhere safe for Palestinians or those trying to help them, the humanitarian response is severely struggling under the weight of insecurity and critical supply shortages, leaving people with few, if any, options for accessing care.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad According to the Red Cross, the 'healthcare system is on the edge of collapse' and it is 'vital that humanitarian aid is able to enter Gaza'. A brutal perspective Given I have never been to the Middle East, Israelis who support the Netanyahu government will doubtless say I don't understand their situation, that my concerns about the humanitarian crisis are naive, and that I lack the proper perspective. However, brutal conflicts have a tendency to alter people's perspectives in a way that allows acts which would once have been met with horror. The bombing of Guernica in the Spanish Civil War sparked global outrage but, only a few years later, the Allies were carpet-bombing cities just like the Nazis. From a distance, many people are increasingly appalled by the Israeli government's actions. In my youth in the 1980s, support for Israel in the UK was so strong it seemed almost universal. That has changed dramatically in the years since. A YouGov poll in December found 26 per cent of people in the UK said their sympathies 'lie more with the Palestinians', compared to 17 per cent for the Israelis. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In the US, both the Democrats and Republicans have maintained strong support for Israel, but during the recent election campaign Joe Biden came under significant pressure to do more to save Palestinian lives. Israelis opposed to Netanyahu It is important to remember there are many people in Israel who vehemently disagree with Netanyahu over the war. For example, the Arab-Jewish movement Standing Together has been organising peace protests in which the demonstrators hold pictures of children killed in Gaza. In a social media post on Sunday, the group said the police had tried to ban this tactic. 'Tel Aviv Police informed us that they prohibit us from displaying photos of Palestinian children in Gaza, killed by airforce bombing, in our upcoming anti-war protest on Thursday. After public pressure, they backtracked. We will not be silenced!' they wrote. The police's actions were a blatant attack on freedom of expression. But their attempt to cover up the reality of what is happening, to hide the consequences of the Israeli government's actions, might also be an indication of a degree of shame. Regardless of the circumstances, it's impossible to justify the killing of children. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Impossible to defend The war in Gaza may not have sparked the major regional conflict that Hamas perhaps wanted, but it is damaging Israel in other ways. The growing humanitarian crisis is a tragedy that will increasingly turn global public opinion against Israel. Stopping supplies of food and medicine is impossible for decent politicians in the West to defend.
The Guardian
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Tomb Sweeping Day and breakdancing in Congo: photos of the day
Relatives visit graves at Pok Fu Lam cemetery in Hong Kong, as people honour their ancestors during the annual Tomb Sweeping Day, known locally as Ching Ming or Qingming Photograph: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images US President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One at Miami international airport. Global stocks fell sharply and the US dollar hit a six-month low after Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs against the US's global trade partners Photograph: Kent Nishimura/Reuters People sleep under mosquito nets on the street in Mandalay following last week's 7.7-magnitude earthquake Photograph: Sai Aung Main/AFP/Getty Images Farmers pick tea leaves in Yuyao for the Qingming festival. They choose the very first tea sprouts, which are considered to be of high quality Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock People fish at Lake Victoria, in Kisumu, where the fishing industry has become an important source of income for residents Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock A breakdancer from the Congo Street collective performs at the Kituku market port in Goma. Drawing inspiration from breakdance and hip-hop, while incorporating their unique style, the collective transforms this space into a vibrant stage, captivating the audience with their energy and mastery of urban dance Photograph: Jospin Mwisha/AFP/Getty Images Germany's Pauline Alexandra Pfeif competes in the women's 10m platform preliminary during the World Aquatics Diving World Cup 2025 at Centre Acuatico Code Metropolitano in Guadalajara Photograph:Artists perform during the Lusail Sky festival as part of the Qatar Eid al-Fitr celebration Photograph: Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock Photograph:Craftsmen work on diamonds at a processing unit in Surat Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters Snails are displayed to be sold on the side of a road in Sousse Photograph: Ons Abid/AP
