Hamas Calls for Global Protests Against US Israel Plan

A poignant portrait of a nine-year-old Palestinian boy, Mahmoud Ajjour, who lost both arms during an Israeli attack on Gaza City, has been awarded the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year Award. Captured by Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times, the photograph illustrates the boy's resilience as he adapts to life after his injuries, including learning to use his feet for daily tasks, according to the jury's report. Elouf, herself evacuated from Gaza in December 2023, highlighted Mahmoud's emotional struggle upon realizing his amputation while also emphasizing the broader implications of war. "This is a quiet photo that speaks loudly," said Joumana El Zein Khoury, Executive Director of World Press Photo, underscoring the lasting impact of conflict on children. The jury reviewed over 59,000 photographs, selecting 42 prize winners from various categories. Among runner-up features were "Droughts in the Amazon" by Musuk Nolte and "Night Crossing" by John Moore, showcasing significant global issues. Mahmoud hopes for prosthetics, aiming to experience childhood like others, as stated by World Press Photo organizers.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated on April 8, 2025, that Gaza has transformed into a “killing field” due to the ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid by Israel, which has persisted for over a month. Guterres emphasized the dire need for food, medicine, and fuel, citing the severe humanitarian crisis in the region. “As aid has dried up, the floodgates of horror have re-opened,” he remarked during a press briefing in New York. In response, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein rejected Guterres’ claims, asserting that there is "no shortage" of aid, and accused Hamas of misusing aid to strengthen its military activities. Guterres expressed concerns over proposals from Israel that increase control over aid distribution, which he argues could limit humanitarian access. The UN chief also warned of escalating tensions in the West Bank, suggesting the situation could worsen to mirror Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. He called for immediate measures to protect civilians, ensure the delivery of aid, and renew ceasefires to alleviate suffering in the region.

In a dramatic act of vengeance, the Abu Samra clan executed a Hamas operative in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, following the murder of one of their relatives. Abdulrahman Sha'aban Abu Samra was reportedly shot while waiting in line for flour, prompting the family to track down his killer, identified as Ibrahim al-Najjar, who was shot dead by multiple family members in broad daylight, according to reports by Reuters and social media footage. The clan emphasized in a social media statement that their relative was not accidentally struck by shrapnel, as some reports suggested, though they did not clarify who fired the fatal shots. The execution is indicative of the ongoing tensions in Gaza, where powerful clans like the Abu Samra family operate with significant autonomy and often engage in violent confrontations with Hamas. Hamas responded by asserting that they would not permit groups to take the law into their own hands, as unrest and protests against the group have been growing throughout Gaza, with demonstrators voicing their frustrations over the ongoing conflict.