Israel’s ambassador to Italy has lashed out at a magazine cover highlighting violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, describing it is antisemitic.
The 10 April edition of L'Espresso featured a photograph of an armed Israeli dressed in military uniform and jeering at a Palestinian woman, under the headline "Abuse". This was accompanied by a series of reports examining the expansion of Israel’s settler movement and its impact on Palestinian communities.
Ambassador Jonathan Peled condemned the cover, calling it "manipulative" and accusing the publication of distorting the reality of Israeli occupation.
"The image distorts the complex reality with which Israel must coexist, promoting stereotypes and hatred," he wrote on X, adding that "responsible journalism must be balanced and fair."
The photograph, taken by Italian photojournalist Pietro Masturzo, forms part of a broader body of work documenting life under Israeli occupation. This particular image was captured in the Palestinian village of Idhna, west of Hebron, on 12 October 2025, the first day of the olive harvest.
