L’Espresso magazine cover ignites Israeli anger. What’s the story?

ALBAWABA - Italian magazine L’Espresso has been facing mixed reactions on social media since releasing its latest copy with a cover photo showing an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian woman.

The cover of the Italian magazine "L'Espresso" has gone viral on social media after publishing a striking image under the headline "L'ABUSO" (The Abuse/Violation) depicting a settler wearing a military uniform and a Palestinian woman.

The image featured an Israeli soldier documenting the misery of a Palestinian woman with his phone, symbolizing the policies of oppression in the West Bank. 

After criticism by Israelis, L'Espresso posted the cover on her X and wrote a statement, "The annexation of the West Bank, with soldiers complicit in the settlers' actions. Gaza annihilated. The advance into Lebanon. The border violated in Syria. The war on Iran. Ethnic cleansing and massacres. Thus the Zionist right gives shape to Greater Israel."

^{L’Espresso magazine cover. (L’Espresso/ X)}

According to pro-Palestinian activists, L’Espresso's cover highlights events in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria to the "Greater Israel" project. The Israeli ambassador in Rome rebuked the magazine cover and labeled it as "hate speech".

On the other side, human rights activists say the cover reflects the reality of militarily-backed settlement expansion, especially in the West Bank.

Moreover, to defend the Italian magazine, many activists and Palestinian outlets posted the full video from where the photo on L’Espresso was taken, and the clip showed the Israeli settler harassing the Palestinian woman and documenting her misery with his phone.

Full video:

🔴 İtalyan dergisi L'Espresso'nun kapak fotoğrafı olarak yayınladığı görselin görüntüleri ortaya çıktı. https://t.co/fZQLkVA4Lk pic.twitter.com/mLW4kUubZE

— Conflict (@ConflictTR) April 13, 2026

^{A photo showing an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian woman, which was placed on L’Espresso magazine. (Instagram)}