The Olivier Rebbot Award 2021

Fatima Shbair

Best photographic news reporting from abroad published in any medium

AWARD DATE: 2021

AWARD NAME: The Olivier Rebbot Award 2021

AWARD RECIPIENT: Fatima Shbair

AWARD RECIPIENT AFFILIATION: Getty Images

AWARD HONORED WORK: “11 Days of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in Gaza”

AWARD SPONSOR: David Ake

Shbair’s unflinching reportage creates an important historical record of the physical, emotional, cultural, and psychological devastation of war for Palestinian families and communities in Gaza. Her raw report on the brutality of war is punctuated with tender moments of connection and mourning, serving as an exceptional example of the importance of an empathetic and tender eye for the quieter moments that speak to our collective humanity during times of conflict.


A photograph shows rockets launched toward Israel from the northern Gaza Strip on May 14, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. More than 65 people in Gaza and seven people in Israel have been killed in continued cross-boarder rocket exchanges as violence continues to escalate bringing fears of war. The escalation came after weeks of rising Israeli-Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem ,which peaked with violent clashes inside the holy site of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Photo: Fatima Shbair

A Palestinian girl stands amid the rubble of her destroyed house in Beit Hanun town northern Gaza Strip, on May 24, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. Gaza residents continue clean-up operations as they return to damaged and destroyed homes as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appeared to be holding into a fourth day. The ceasefire brings to an end eleven days of fighting which killed more than 250 Palestinians, many of them women and children, and 13 Israelis. The conflict began on May 10th after rising tensions in East Jerusalem and clashes at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Photo: Fatima Shbair

Relatives of Palestinian Ahmed Al-Shenbari, who was killed during an Israeli raid in Beit Hanoun city northern Gaza Strip, mourn during his funeral on May 11, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. Israel and Hamas exchanged heavy fire, with 26 Palestinians killed in Gaza, in a dramatic escalation between the bitter rivals sparked by unrest at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Photo: Fatima Shbair

Relatives of Palestinian Abdul Salam Al-Ghazali, who was killed during an israeli raid in Al-Sabra neighborhood, central Gaza City, mourn during his funeral on May 12, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. At least three dozen Palestinians and five Israelis have been killed in the cross-border exchange of rockets and aerial bombardment, which followed a series of violent confrontations between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in East Jerusalem. Photo: Fatima Shbair


Scenes from Al-Jawhara Tower in central Gaza on May 12, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. At least three dozen Palestinians and five Israelis were killed in the cross-border exchange of rockets and aerial bombardment, which followed a series of violent confrontations between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in East Jerusalem. Photo: Fatima Shbair


Palestinians inspect bodies of children who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on May 16, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. More than 140 people in Gaza and ten people in Israel have been killed as cross-border rocket exchanges continue into their seventh day with Israel vowing to continue the bombing campaign despite increasing calls from the international community to end the conflict. The conflict which erupted May 10, comes after weeks of rising Israeli-Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem, which peaked with violent clashes inside the holy site of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Photo: Fatima Shbair

Palestinian families sit in an UNRWA school, after violent Israeli raids on the city of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza on May 14, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. More than 100 people in Gaza and seven people in Israel have been killed in continued cross-border rocket exchanges as violence continues to escalate bringing fears of war. The escalation, which erupted May 10, comes after weeks of rising Israeli -Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem, which peaked with violent clashes inside the holy site of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Photo: Fatima Shbair

People inspect the damage done to Beit Hanoun after a night of Israeli raids on May 14, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. More than 100 people in Gaza and seven people in Israel have been killed in continued cross-border rocket exchanges as violence continues to escalate bringing fears of war. The escalation, which erupted May 10, comes after weeks of rising Israeli -Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem, which peaked with violent clashes inside the holy site of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Photo: Fatima Shbair

People take pictures of members of the Ezz-Al Din Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement as a ceasefire came into effect on May 21, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. Yesterday, Israel's cabinet and Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza, agreed on a ceasefire starting in the early hours of this morning. The recent fighting began on May 10th after rising tensions in East Jerusalem. Photo: Fatima Shbair

Palestinians inspect the rubble of their destroyed houses after a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza fighters, in Beit Hanun, northern Gaza Strip, on May 22, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appeared to be holding, despite fresh clashes at Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. The ceasefire brings to an end eleven days of fighting which killed more than 250 Palestinians, many of them women and children, and 13 Israelis. The conflict began on May 10th after rising tensions in East Jerusalem and clashes at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Photo: Fatima Shbair

Palestinians, look after those who were wounded in overnight Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, receives treatment at Al-Shifa Hospital on May 18, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. More than 200 people in Gaza and twelve people in Israel have been killed as cross-border rocket exchanges intensified. Israel has vowed to continue the bombing campaign despite increasing calls from the United Nations and the international community to end the conflict. The conflict which erupted May 10, comes after weeks of rising Israeli-Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem, which peaked with violent clashes inside the holy site of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Photo: Fatima Shbair

Palestinian children hold candles during a rally amid the ruins of houses destroyed by Israeli strikes, in Beit Lahia Northern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2021 in Gaza City, Gaza. Gaza residents returned to damaged and destroyed homes as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appeared to be holding. The ceasefire brings to an end eleven days of fighting which killed more than 250 Palestinians, many of them women and children, and 13 Israelis. The conflict began on May 10th after rising tensions in East Jerusalem and clashes at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Photo: Fatima Shbair

Citation for Excellence:
Nicole Tung
The Washington Post
“Syria: War of Attrition”