Italian celebrity chef questioned by antiterrorism unit over anti-Israel posts
A vocal pro-Palestine activist, Rubio was briefly detained and interrogated last week by Digos — Italy's antiterrorism division — on charges of inciting racial hatred, according to his friend and journalist Alberto Fazolo, who shared details of the case on Monday.
Fazolo said Rubio's X account posts triggered the investigation, describing it as a 'blitz' aimed at obtaining data from his online activity, an operation usually carried out by a different police unit.
'Death to diplomats complicit in the genocide that has been ongoing for 77 years, death to colonialism, supremacism, racism, and anti-Muslim hatred. Death therefore to Zionism and the Jewish colony. Long live Palestine and the native Palestinian Semites,' one of them read.
Fazolo said Rubio remains free but has lost access to his social media accounts and private messages during the investigation.
Authorities are reportedly reviewing his Telegram and Signal chats as part of the probe. His accounts remain publicly visible, but he is unable to use them.
'Gabriele is free, he is keen to assure you that he is well,' Fazolo said. 'But for a while he will not have the opportunity to communicate through his channels or contact details.'
Rubio has long been a controversial figure in Italy due to his outspoken criticism of Israeli policy and strong support for the Palestinian cause. Pro-Israeli groups have previously accused him of antisemitism, which Rubio denies.
Earlier this year, he drew fresh backlash after urging his followers to submit war crimes complaints against Israeli Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, who was visiting Rome at the time.
In May 2024, Rubio was violently assaulted outside his home by six unidentified attackers armed with bricks and hammers, an attack his supporters linked to his activism.
Fazolo said Rubio has 'been persecuted for years' due to his efforts to raise awareness about what he calls the 'ethnic cleansing of Palestine.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
37 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Berlin says it is prepared to increase pressure on Israel over Gaza
The German government said on Monday that it is prepared to take steps to put pressure on Israel with regards to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but did not give details on what they could be. 'The chancellor was very clear in the phone conversation with the Israeli prime minister ... that the federal government is prepared to increase the pressure if progress is not made,' a spokesperson said. 'In principle we are prepared to take further steps, which is also the purpose of this afternoon's security meeting,' he said, referring to a meeting of the German security cabinet.
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
EU-US trade deal ‘heavy blow' to European industry: Russia
Russia on Monday criticized a trade deal reached between the European Union and the United States, saying it would deal a 'heavy blow' to European industry. 'Such an approach will lead to the further de-industrialization of Europe, to the flow of investments from Europe to the United States, and of course, this will be a very heavy blow,' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a youth conference near Moscow.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Israeli settlers attack West Bank Christian village: PA
JERUSALEM: Israeli settlers attacked the Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank, torching cars and spray-painting threatening graffiti, the Palestinian Authority said Monday. 'Israeli colonial settlers launched a terror attack tonight on the Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh (Ramallah), setting fire to Palestinian vehicles and spray-painting racist threats in Hebrew on homes and property,' the Ramallah-based authority wrote on X. A Taybeh resident, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, told AFP the attack occurred at about 2:00 am (2300 GMT), with at least two vehicles burned. They said one vehicle belonged to a journalist, while noting the damage appeared to target Palestinian property broadly. A photo shared by a Palestinian government agency on X showed graffiti on a Taybeh wall that read: 'Al-Mughayyir, you will regret,' referring to a nearby village that was also attacked by settlers earlier this year. The Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry condemned the attack, calling it 'settler terrorism.' Germany's ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, also condemned it, writing on X: 'These extremist settlers may claim that God gave them the land. But they are nothing but criminals abhorrent to any faith.' Taybeh and its surroundings have experienced several bouts of settler violence in recent months, including an arson attack at an ancient Byzantine church. The village — home to about 1,300 mostly Christian Palestinians, many holding US dual citizenship — is known for its brewery, the oldest in the Palestinian territories. Settlers have attacked neighboring communities in recent months, resulting in three deaths, damage to Palestinian water wells and the displacement of at least one rural herding community. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. The territory is home to about three million Palestinians and around 700,000 Israeli settlers, including about 200,000 in east Jerusalem. Last week, 71 members of Israel's 120-seat parliament, or Knesset, passed a motion calling on the government to annex the West Bank.
