Gaza photo awards spotlight Israeli attacks and journalist losses

Turkish presidential communication chief Burhanettin Duran opened the Istanbul Photo Awards 2026, emphasizing that the exhibition’s award‑winning images document the “ongoing horror” in Gaza. He highlighted a photograph of a two‑year‑old child in Nasır Hospital, describing it as evidence of Israeli “genocide” and a call for global awareness.

The World Newspapers and News Publishers Union presented the 2026 Golden Pen of Freedom to three Palestinian photographers and cameramen working for AFP, AP and Reuters in Gaza. The award, to be handed out at the 77th World Media Congress in Marseille, recognizes their role in reporting the conflict despite systematic restrictions and the loss of over 260 Palestinian media workers since October 2023. Both events underscore the severe humanitarian situation in Gaza and the risks faced by journalists covering it.