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Good morning.
More than 170 journalists have been killed in Gaza since 2023, with estimates suggesting the toll could be as high as 206. It is the deadliest conflict for media workers in recent history. In a sobering report, Thaslima Begum gathered some of their stories. And attacks on journalists worldwide are on the rise, with deaths occurring from the Middle East to Europe.
Just this week, Hossam Shabat, a 23-year-old reporter, was killed in Gaza. Shabat had feared death since Israel accused him of terrorist activity. He had already written a message to be published in the event of his death: “For the past 18 months, I have dedicated every moment of my life to my people. I documented the horrors in northern Gaza minute by minute, determined to show the world the truth they tried to bury … I risked everything to report the truth, and now, I am finally at rest – something I haven’t known in the past 18 months.”
For today’s newsletter, I spoke with Palestinian journalist Hind Khoudary, who has been reporting from Gaza since the start of the war, about the situation on the ground for reporters, and Guardian journalist Ruth Michaelson about what is driving the decline in press freedom around the world. That’s right after the headlines.
Five big stories
UK economy | Lower-income households are on track to become £500 a year poorer by the end of the decade as a result of the UK chancellor’s spring statement, according to analysis by the Resolution Foundation.
Monarchy | King Charles required hospital observation on Thursday after experiencing “temporary side-effects” as part of his medical treatment for cancer, Buckingham Palace said.
Canada | Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, has said the era of deep ties with the US “is over” as governments from Tokyo to Berlin and Paris sharply criticised Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on car imports, with some threatening retaliatory action.
Asia-Pacific | Japan has for the first time released plans to evacuate more than 100,000 civilians from some of its remote islands near Taiwan in the event of conflict amid escalating tensions between Beijing and Taipei.
Environment | Supporters of the climate group Just Stop Oil have announced that after three years of disruptive protests they are ending their campaign of civil resistance. Hannah Hunt, whose speech on Valentine’s Day 2022 marked the beginning of the campaign, made the announcement outside Downing Street in London on Thursday.
In depth: ‘No Palestinian journalist is too high-profile to be targeted or harmed’
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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/28/friday-briefing-how-gaza-is-becoming-the-deadliest-conflict-zone-for-journalists
