An investigation into a covert operation by the Mossad to sabotage an international criminal court war crimes investigation is among the Guardian journalism recognised at the UK’s Press Awards.
The stories by investigations correspondent Harry Davies lifted the lid on the activities of Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, which are usually a closely guarded secret.
The revelations came after months of reporting by the Guardian in collaboration with journalists at the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call.
The story led to questions being asked about Yossi Cohen, the Mossad director who led the offensive and threatened the then prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in a series of secret meetings. The investigation emerged as the current chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, announced he was seeking arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The judges described the project as “brave and collaborative journalism”.
They said: “This is an extremely important story, diligently reported, with global ramifications. For exclusivity, impact and investigative skills, this ticks all the boxes.”
Marina Hyde was named broadsheet columnist of the year, with recognition for her analysis of the election result in which she said there were “moments worthy of entire Netflix specials as in sports halls and community centres various Dickensian grotesques were ushered into their Christmas future, live on stage”.
Highly commended in the campaign of the year category was the Guardian’s Killed Women Count project, highlighting the toll and tragedy of violence against women in the UK and the push for more action to stop it. Led by senior reporter Alexandra Topping, it documented the death of a woman every three days and attempted to ensure each incident did not become “background noise” but was given the attention it deserved.
Since January 2024, the Guardian has reported on every woman allegedly killed by a man, highlighting the work of organisations such as Counting Dead Women, the Femicide Census, Killed Women and others.
Charlotte Edwardes was highly commended for her in-depth interviews, including one with prime minister Keir Starmer, written as she followed him around the country during the general election campaign. The Guardian’s Reclaim Your Brain newsletter was commended in the award for best audience engagement initiative.
Jenny Kleeman was recognised in the broadsheet feature writer of the year award, including for a piece examining the US pronatalist movement, “on a mission to save humanity by having as many babies as possible”.
