Italian journalist fired after a question about Israel at a European Commission conference

Brussels, November 6, 2025 — Italian journalist Gabriele Nunziati, correspondent for Agenzia Nova, was fired after he asked a question related to Israel during a press conference of the European Commission. The decision sparked reactions from Italian press unions and international organizations, which consider it a direct attack on freedom of expression and journalistic independence.

The incident occurred at the beginning of October when Nunziati asked the spokesperson of the Commission whether the institution has a position regarding the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, in the context of allegations of violations of international humanitarian law. The question posed by Nunziati: "If Russia has to pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine, do you think Israel should also pay for the reconstruction of Gaza?" received no response during the press conference. Shortly after the conference, the editorial office of Agenzia Nova informed him that they were also terminating their collaboration with him, citing a "violation of editorial lines."

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) publicly condemned the decision, calling for the immediate reinstatement of the journalist. "Firing a reporter for a question posed to a European institution is unacceptable and endangers press freedom," the two organizations stated in a joint statement.

The Journalists' Order of Italy announced that it would analyze the case and reminded that the activities of reporters accredited in Brussels are protected by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which guarantees freedom of information. "The inquiries of journalists cannot be censored or sanctioned on political grounds," the organization specified.

The Nunziati case has sparked extensive debates in Italy, where several editorial offices and unions have accused a growing trend of political pressure on the press. According to the organization Reporters Without Borders, Italy ranks 46th in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, a decline compared to the previous year.