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AFP photographer wins Arab Journalism Award

DUBAI - A Palestinian photographer for Agence France-Presse won an Arab award on Wednesday for a picture of the funeral of a Palestinian child killed during an Israeli incursion in the Gaza Strip.

Mahmud Hams, 27, a native of Rafah, bagged the prize for photography of the Arab Journalism Awards handed out by Dubai Press Club at the end of a two-day Arab media forum in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The 15,000-dollar prize “is a boost which will prompt me to work with more enthusiasm,” said Hams, who was shot in both legs while taking pictures in the town of Deir al-Balah in 2004.

“I am happy to be able to convey the Palestinian people’s daily reality,” he said.

The winning picture, shot last year, provides a close-up of the slain boy with part of his face still stained with blood during the funeral, with mourners seen in the background.

It was commended by the award organisers as “a moving sight from the Palestinians’ daily tragedy.”

Awards for other journalism categories were delivered during the ceremony, including a 50,000-dollar prize for the year’s Arab media personality which went to Saudi journalist Othman al-Omair.

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