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Jason Burke

@jasonburke2.bsky.social

93 followers 20 following 26 posts

I'm the Guardian's International Security Correspondent, based in London after 25 years as a foreign correspondent in Middle East, South Asia, Africa and Europe. Also books (latest, The Revolutionists, coming in October https://shorturl.at/aLfVb). Dad.

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Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · 1d

I'll be talking about my new book and
The Remarkable True Story of The Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s .. tonight in London
expect spies, explosions, getaway cars, war, politics, assassinations and beauty queens
book last seats here:
kilntheatre.com/whats-on/the...

The Revolutionists: The Remarkable True Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970's | Kiln Theatre

A proudly local theatre with an international vision and reputation

kilntheatre.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · 4d

v pleased by v kind review of The Revolutionists (published on Friday) in the Times. esp as by legendary Simon Sebag Montefiore. www.thetimes.com/culture/book...

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · 6d

so this is nuts, and very nice. My new book #TheRevolutionists has actually made it onto the Baillie Gifford prize shortlist. It is published today too. To say I'm thrilled would be something of an understatement.

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

‘Horny wolves, eunuchs and pirates’ among Baillie Gifford prize shortlist subjects

Helen Garner and Richard Holmes among authors of nonfiction books that also encompass international terrorists and ‘ghastly literary men’

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · 10d

For many Israelis, Netanyahu’s warning to get used to growing isolation confirmed what they already suspected of his priorities - but will also reinforce his political base
my report from Sderot and Tel Aviv here ICYMI

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

‘Water off a duck’s back’: will Israel’s growing isolation make its leadership change course?

For many Israelis, Netanyahu’s warning to get used to growing isolation confirmed what they already suspected of his priorities

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · 13d

this is powerful, moving and important from my fantastic colleague in Gaza, Malak Tantesh

(and that's her dad in the hat, a very dear friend)

www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...

Escaping Gaza City, while reporting on its destruction – podcast

Malak A Tantesh on fleeing the Israeli ground offensive in Gaza and becoming a reporter in the most dangerous place on Earth for journalists

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · 14d

thanks Stephen. hope you enjoy. please let me know what you think.

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · 14d

very pleased with this review in the FT of my new book - The Revolutionists (out in 1O days in UK).

"dramatic, deeply researched account looks at the hijackings and hostage-takings of the 1970s — and their connection with radicalism today"

www.ft.com/content/96d6...

The Revolutionists — the extremists who took terror into the skies

Jason Burke’s dramatic, deeply researched account looks at the hijackings and hostage-takings of the 1970s — and their connection with radicalism today

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · 14d

Thanks Dean. that's great to hear.

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · 14d

thanks Nick! sorry for delay in posting this. am in Jerusalem working ...

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Sep 4

very pleased that The Revolutionists is on the Baillie Gifford longlist with 11 brilliant works by brilliant writers. they've even done a nice little video. and my book looks v handsome indeed!

youtu.be/W34vK8Tpcz0

The Ballie Gifford Prize for non-fiction announces the 2025 longlist

YouTube video by The Baillie Gifford Prize

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jul 13

Hamas is hurting, undoubtedly, but still has a plan: to survive
(and to capture an Israeli soldier if possible)
My report here:

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Depleted Hamas focuses on desperate new aim: capturing an Israeli soldier

Militant group has become adept at exploiting successful attacks – and now needs all the leverage it can get for talks

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jul 9

"The scenes are truly shocking – they resemble the horrors of judgment day," Dr Mohammed Saqr, director of nursing at Gaza’s Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, told me.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Gaza aid workers overwhelmed by ‘mass casualty incidents’ at food distribution sites

Doctors say hundreds have been wounded by Israeli gunfire while trying to reach convoys

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jul 7

Hopes and fears in Gaza - and a 12 year old who just want not to be "torn apart"
a report with my brilliant colleague Malak A Tantesh

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

‘Our days are full of hardship’: people in Gaza barely dare to hope for success in ceasefire talks

Mood is tense and subdued after nearly 21 months of Israeli offensives that have displaced almost the entire population

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Jason Burke

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jul 3

The IDF dropped a 500lb bomb into a cafe in Gaza on Monday. We saw & identified fragments.
They had conducted "aerial surveillance" so knew it was crowded with civilians.
They had other precise munitions available.
Up to 40 died, many more injured.
My report:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Israeli military used 500lb bomb in strike on Gaza cafe, fragments reveal

Exclusive: Experts say use of heavy munition in Monday’s strike that killed dozens may constitute a war crime

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jul 3

The IDF dropped a 500lb bomb into a cafe in Gaza on Monday. We saw & identified fragments.
They had conducted "aerial surveillance" so knew it was crowded with civilians.
They had other precise munitions available.
Up to 40 died, many more injured.
My report:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Israeli military used 500lb bomb in strike on Gaza cafe, fragments reveal

Exclusive: Experts say use of heavy munition in Monday’s strike that killed dozens may constitute a war crime

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jul 2

‘Beyond anything imaginable’: dozens killed at busy Gaza seafront cafe
our report on how a devastating Israeli strike transforms peaceful scene at al-Baqa into horror
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

‘Beyond anything imaginable’: dozens killed at busy Gaza seafront cafe

Witnesses describe explosion, flames and smoke plumes as airstrike transforms peaceful scene at al-Baqa into a horror

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jul 1

Twelve days in Gaza: what happened while the world looked away? One of the consequences of Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran was a drop-off in attention paid to another conflict. This is our timeline of what happened

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Twelve days in Gaza: what happened while the world looked away?

One of the consequences of Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran was a drop-off in attention paid to the war in Gaza, where a terrible humanitarian situation deteriorated even further. This is a timeline...

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jun 29

Post-apocalyptic’: medical staff struggle as gangs fight over aid supplies in Gaza
Militants, clans, Hamas and criminal gangs bring violence and anarchy as they vie for power amid Israeli strikes
my report here:

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

‘Post-apocalyptic’: medical staff struggle as gangs fight over aid supplies in Gaza

Militants, clans, Hamas and criminal gangs bring violence and anarchy as they vie for power amid Israeli strikes

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jun 28

Supporters see a big win - and years more in power; critics see an unprincipled opportunist whose political career will soon be over ... who is right?
my piece:

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

How will Israel’s war with Iran affect Benjamin Netanyahu’s future?

Loyalists hope for boost after apparent victory, but political divisions and 7 October security failures still loom large

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jun 27

so ...
come to the launch of my next book, in London, in October, and travel back to the 1970s when you could talk about revolution w/out irony, go underground for years w/out being caught and roll a grenade into a Parisian bistro one day and dine in one the next ...

kilntheatre.com/whats-on/the...

The Revolutionists: The Remarkable True Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970's | Kiln Theatre

A proudly local theatre with an international vision and reputation

kilntheatre.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jun 27

JNIM, the ‘ghost enemy’, have launched in the Sahel one of the most effective offensives for years by an Islamist militant organisation momentum ...
no one watching obvs because we are all looking to Middle East but this is not at all good ...

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Who are JNIM, the jihadist ‘ghost enemy’ gaining momentum in the Sahel?

Islamist extremist group has capitalised on instability to control a swath of the region

www.theguardian.com

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jun 27

I'm also writing much more on it for the weekend

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jun 27

thanks. give us a moment or two please. it's been a busy day! i have just filed this.

Jason Burke @jasonburke2.bsky.social · Jun 23

Lots of denials but stats I got hold of speak for themselves:

B/n 27.5 and 19.6, Red Cross clinic in Rafah saw 1,874 “weapon-wounded patients” with 18 “mass casualty incidents”. vast majority of patients said were wounded trying to access aid at/near GHF sites.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Gaza slides into lethal chaos as desperate Palestinians fight to survive

Witnesses and NGO records show hundreds have been killed since Israel-backed organisation began distributing food but it says its model is working

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Jason Burke

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · Jun 22

Between 27 May and 19 June, the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah received 1,874 “weapon-wounded patients” and recorded 18 “mass casualty incidents”

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

‘A shell fell metres away’: one man’s attempt to reach GHF food hub in Gaza

Abdullah Ahmed was hit by shrapnel while on a desperate mission to feed his family

www.theguardian.com