The U.S. State Department has dismissed Shahid Qureshi, its chief media officer for Israeli-Palestinian affairs, after a series of disputes over language used in official statements concerning Gaza and the broader occupation. According to The Washington Post, the disagreements centred on Washington’s unwillingness to acknowledge or condemn the forced displacement of Palestinians and the killing of journalists in the Strip.

Qureshi’s dismissal followed internal debates over a draft statement that included the phrase, “We do not support forced displacement in Gaza.” Senior officials ordered its removal before publication, reflecting Washington’s reluctance to publicly reject Israel’s long-feared expulsion plans. He later stated that his removal raises troubling questions about the U.S. government’s real position on the mass deportation of Palestinians, amid famine, bombardment, and international warnings of ethnic cleansing.

Tensions also arose after the assassination of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif by Israeli forces. Qureshi had suggested including condolences for slain journalists and their families in the official statement, but his proposal was blocked on the grounds that the State Department “could not issue condolences without verifying the actions of the targeted individual.” The refusal underscored Washington’s growing unease over acknowledging Israeli attacks on the press.

The report further revealed pressure from David Milstein, senior adviser to the U.S. ambassador in Tel Aviv, who opposed Qureshi’s presence in the department and is known for defending Israeli government policies. Another dispute revolved around the insistence of pro-Israel voices within the administration to use biblical terms such as “Judea and Samaria” instead of “West Bank,” aligning U.S. rhetoric with the Israeli far-right.

The episode has fuelled accusations that Washington’s so-called neutrality is in fact compromised, exposing a policy that shields Israel from accountability while silencing voices inside the U.S. administration who seek a more balanced approach.