Journalist Gabriele Nunziati Alleges Israel Blocked His Gaza Entry After Nova News Report

November 04, 2025 – Palestine/Italy – 

Italian journalist Gabriele Nunziati of the outlet NOVA News has taken to social media to allege that Israeli authorities refused him entry into the Gaza Strip immediately after he published a report highlighting serious humanitarian conditions in northern Gaza. Nunziati says the denial followed a field investigation he conducted in early October, during which he sought to interview displaced families in Gaza’s Rafah area. He claims the Israeli liaison office cited unspecified “security concerns” as the basis for revoking his accreditation at the border crossing.

According to Nunziati’s account, he travelled to the Erez crossing equipped with proper documentation for foreign press access to Gaza, only to be informed at the last minute that his permit had been cancelled. He told fellow reporters he was left waiting in a holding area for more than three hours while officials reviewed the case. At no point was Nunziati given a written explanation or opportunity to appeal.

Press-freedom observers say the incident reflects a broader trend of restricting independent foreign correspondents from covering Gaza and its aftermath of intense conflict. They argue that denying entry to journalists after they deliver critical field reporting can constitute a de facto form of press censorship. The Italian Pensioners-Forum for Press Rights issued a statement supporting Nunziati and calling on Italian diplomatic channels to intervene on behalf of media access.

Nunziati says his original story for NOVA News included interviews with aid-workers, families seeking missing children, and local authorities overseeing reconstruction efforts. He intends to publish the full piece online, noting that Israel’s denial of his entry does not alter the facts he collected. He further warned that other correspondents may self-censor to avoid the risk of expulsion or denial of future access.

The episode underlines how access restrictions in conflict zones pose a serious obstacle to frontline reporting. Analysts suggest that when independent journalists are blocked on administrative grounds rather than safety assessment, the public, in turn, is deprived of vital, diverse coverage of conditions on the ground. Nunziati’s case may become a test for whether states can continue to manage press access without formal accountability or transparency.

Reference – 

A Journalist Asked Why Israel Isn’t Paying to Rebuild Gaza. It Cost Him His Job.