Vatican City: Anadolu photojournalist Mustafa Hassouna was awarded second place at the Xposure 2025 International Photography Festival in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for his powerful image titled Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Hassouna, a Palestinian journalist, participated in the festival held in Sharjah with his photograph depicting Israel's ongoing brutal military campaign in Gaza.

According to Anadolu Agency, the first-place award went to another Palestinian photographer, Sahir al-Gavr. Hassouna expressed his commitment to bringing attention to the hardships and oppression experienced by Palestinians in Gaza through his photography. "We are striving to shed light on the suffering and oppression faced by our people in Gaza. These award-winning photos tell the sad but resilient story of the Palestinian people in the face of genocide," Hassouna told Anadolu in an interview.

Hassouna has received multiple international accolades, including the Jury Special Award at the World Press Photo competition for his work, Israel's Attacks on Gaza. The recognition at Xposure 2025 adds to his growing list of achievements as a photojournalist dedicated to capturing significant moments in the ongoing conflict in the region.