Palestinian photojournalist Ali Jadallah, based in Gaza, has won first place in the Portfolio (Story-Telling) category at the HIPA Awards 2025 for his powerful series titled "Burden of Survival." The recognition highlights his compelling documentation of life in the Gaza Strip amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian challenges.
For over a decade, Jadallah has been documenting daily life in the Gaza Strip, capturing both the immediate impacts of conflict and the everyday struggles of its residents. His work follows the straightforward photojournalism tradition of showing the unfiltered experiences of civilians caught in the crossfire. Through his lens, he seeks to reveal the profound impact of violence and the destruction of homes and communities on ordinary people.
The award-winning "Burden of Survival" series presents haunting scenes of grief, displacement, and human endurance in Gaza. His photographs capture wounded and grieving individuals, children affected by the conflict, and long lines of people waiting for assistance amid rubble and destruction. These powerful images reflect both the immediate trauma caused by attacks and the ongoing daily struggle for survival that defines life in the territory.
Jadallah's personal story is deeply intertwined with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict he documents. Living in Gaza before the current escalation, he experienced profound personal loss when his family home was destroyed, resulting in the deaths of family members. Despite having opportunities to leave Gaza for his safety, Jadallah made the deliberate choice to remain in the territory to continue bearing witness to the ongoing war and its impact on civilians.
His commitment to documenting the Gaza conflict has earned him multiple international recognitions beyond the HIPA Awards. In 2025, he received the Grand Prize for Culture and Arts awarded by the Turkish presidency specifically for his photography work. His talent and dedication have also been recognized through awards at prestigious competitions including the World Press Photo contest and the Siena International Photo Awards, establishing him as a significant voice in contemporary conflict photojournalism.
