Türkiye honors Anadolu's Gaza photojournalist with presidential award

Anadolu Agency photojournalist Ali Jadallah has been honored with the 2025 Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award in photography, recognizing his extensive documentation of life in Gaza and the humanitarian impact of Israeli military operations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the award recipients during a ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, celebrating achievements across various cultural and scientific fields.

Documenting Conflict and Personal Loss

Jadallah, who has worked with Anadolu since 2015 and documented Gaza for over 15 years, faced profound personal tragedy during the recent conflict. His family home was targeted in the early stages of Israel's military campaign that began in October 2023, resulting in the deaths of his father, two siblings, and three cousins. His mother, a dialysis patient, was severely injured but survived after being extracted from rubble. Jadallah personally recovered his family members' bodies over three days. Despite the evacuation of his wife, children, and mother to Türkiye, he chose to remain in Gaza to continue his work.

International Recognition and Legal Impact

Jadallah's photography has achieved global recognition, serving as evidence in international legal proceedings and earning numerous prestigious awards. His images formed the basis for Anadolu's publications "The Evidence" and "The Witness," which document alleged Israeli war crimes, and were presented at the International Court of Justice during South Africa's case against Israel. President Erdogan showcased one of Jadallah's photographs during his address to the UN General Assembly in September 2025, highlighting the image titled "Food distributed to Palestinians struggling with hunger in Gaza."

Award-Winning Journalism

The photojournalist's work has received acclaim from major international competitions, including winning the "Story" category at the 2025 World Press Photo contest and back-to-back "Photo of the Year" honors at the Siena International Photo Awards in 2024 and 2025. His images have been featured by Time, The Atlantic, CNN, and appeared on covers of publications including Time Magazine, The Guardian, and El País. Magnum Photos, the prestigious agency founded by photography legends Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson, dedicated a special feature to Jadallah titled "Voices From Gaza: Ali Jadallah," cementing his status as one of the region's most significant visual storytellers.