State Department crackdown: No room for dissent on Gaza

According to The Washington Post, Shahid Qureshi, the State Department’s senior press officer for Israeli and Palestinian affairs, was removed from his position just days after drafting a statement that emphasized Washington’s opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza.

Qureshi explained that the language he used in the draft statement was consistent with recent remarks by both the president and Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy.

Another factor behind his dismissal was his position on Israel’s killing of journalists in Gaza. Following the death of Al Jazeera reporter Anas al-Sharif, Qureshi recommended that Washington extend condolences to the journalist’s family—a suggestion that was rejected.

One of his frequent adversaries within the department was David Milstein, senior adviser to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who, according to officials cited by The Washington Post, is known for clashing with staff across the State Department in defense of Israeli policies. “Milstein is an adviser to one ambassador, but he has his hand in everything,” one U.S. official said.

According to The Associated Press, Qureshi was dismissed following a complaint filed by the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. He had been responsible for drafting Trump administration speeches on U.S. policy toward Israel and Gaza.

Unnamed U.S. officials described his firing as a troubling signal to State Department staff, indicating that dissenting views on Gaza and Palestine will not be tolerated.

When asked for comment, the State Department did not provide a reason for Qureshi’s dismissal but claimed: “We do not comment on personnel matters. The Department does not tolerate employees who commit misconduct through unauthorized disclosures.”