Italian journalist dismissed after asking if Israel should pay for Gaza’s reconstruction

Italian journalist Gabriele Nunziati has been dismissed from his role at Nova, a Rome-based news agency, after posing a question about Israel’s responsibility in rebuilding Gaza during a European Commission press briefing in Brussels.

The dismissal, first reported by Fanpage and later detailed by The Intercept on Tuesday, occurred about a month after Nunziati began covering the European Union. According to Nunziati, he was informed by email that his contract would be terminated.

At the 13 October briefing, Nunziati asked Paula Pinho, the European Commission’s chief spokesperson, whether Israel should bear financial responsibility for reconstructing Gaza. He compared it to the EU’s repeated position that Russia must pay for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.

“You’ve been repeating several times that Russia should pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine,” he asked. “Do you believe that Israel should pay for the reconstruction of Gaza since they have destroyed almost all its civilian infrastructure?”

Pinho responded briefly, saying it was “an interesting question” but that she had “no comment.”

Two weeks later, Nunziati received notice that his collaboration with Nova would end. He told The Intercept that the timing suggested his question was the cause.

Nova’s justification for dismissal

On 27 October, Nunziati received an email from Nova stating that the agency intended to terminate his contract. “Two weeks later — on October 27 — I received an email from my news agency telling me that they intended to stop our collaboration” The Intercept reported.

Nova spokesperson Francesco Civita confirmed that Nunziati was dismissed over the Gaza question. Civita described the inquiry as “technically incorrect,” arguing that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was an “unprovoked aggression,” whereas Israel’s military actions were “a response to an attack.” 

Civita added that the difference between Russia’s and Israel’s positions had been “repeatedly explained” to Nunziati but that the journalist had “completely failed to grasp the substantial and formal difference in the situations.”

“Worse still, the video related to his question was picked up and reposted by Russian nationalist Telegram channels and media outlets linked to political Islam with an anti-European agenda, causing embarrassment to the agency” he added.

European Commission reaffirms support for press freedom

At a European Commission press briefing on 6 November 2025, Euro News journalist Vincenzo Genovese raised the issue of Nunziati’s dismissal, citing concerns over press freedom.

In response Commission spokesman Olof Gill reiterated that the European Commission values press freedom and demonstrates this daily, but noted that it has not contacted the media outlet involved, adding that questions regarding the dismissal should be directed to the organisation concerned.

Reactions in Italy

Nunziati’s dismissal has provoked criticism within Italy. Anna Laura Orrico, a member of Parliament from the Five Star Movement, denounced the dismissal in a statement to an Italian newspaper:

“If the story corresponds to the facts, it would be simply shameful for a media outlet to make such a decision. We express our full solidarity with Nunziati and stand alongside all those who call for truth, transparency, and respect for press freedom.”

Another Nova journalist, speaking to The Intercept on condition of anonymity to protect their job, said that Nunziati’s case represented “the tip of the iceberg of Italian censorship to which journalists are subjected” when covering Israel. 

“Gabriele was fired because he asked an uncomfortable question to the European Commission,” the journalist said. “In the days that followed, the atmosphere was very tense.”

The Nova agency journalist said that, after Nunziati’s dismissal, “all the journalists in the editorial office became silent.”

Broader concerns over censorship and media independence

The incident adds to a growing number of cases in which Western journalists have faced repercussions for challenging official narratives or asking critical questions about Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), more than 240 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the start of the current conflict, with scores more injured and nearly 100 imprisoned by Israel.