Italian media on September 17 began the day focused on the ongoing Israeli ground and air assault on Gaza City, with reports confirming the invasion, heavy casualties, and the flight of 400,000 Palestinians. The Pope called for peace, and the EU proposed sanctions on trade with Israel. By early afternoon, the narrative shifted to Mattia Furlani's gold medal in long jump at the World Athletics Championships. The focus returned to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the mid-afternoon, with new reports highlighting Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich's controversial comments about an "Eldorado Gaza" to be shared with the US. In the evening, the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by a quarter point also gained prominence, while Smotrich's comments continued to be reported.