A photograph that shows the world we live in: A gaze that warns PHOTO

Among hundreds of harrowing images, one photograph stands out, showing two-year-old Sham Kudeih in the arms of her mother at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

The photograph was taken on August 10, 2025, and claimed first place in the selection of the 100 best photos of 2025 on the EPA Images platform.

This image reflects everything—fear, uncertainty, but also the unbreakable bond between parent and child.

Sham, like thousands of children in Gaza, has grown up surrounded by sirens, explosions, and a lack of basic necessities.

EPA/HAITHAM IMAD

According to data from the Gaza Ministry of Health, since October 10, more than 390 people have been killed and over 1,060 injured in ceasefire violations in the enclave. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks on Gaza have claimed more than 70,000 lives, mostly women and children, and injured over 170,000 people. The suffering continues even though the fighting has been formally halted.

This photograph powerfully illustrates the scale of the tragedy and serves as a reminder that behind political decisions and military operations are real people—families losing their loved ones, children growing up in fear and uncertainty.

At a time when the world often forgets the plight of civilians, not only in the Gaza Strip, the gaze of two-year-old Sham serves as a stark warning.