US State Department Fires Press Officer Over Israel, Gaza Messaging

The U.S. State Department fired Shahed Ghoreishi, its senior press officer for Israeli-Palestinian affairs, after disputes over the Trump administration's messaging on Gaza and Israel. Ghoreishi drafted a statement opposing the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, a position previously expressed by President Donald Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff, but senior officials vetoed the language and ordered its removal. His dismissal followed other clashes, including his push to offer condolences after Israeli strikes killed journalists in Gaza and disagreement over terminology, with officials favoring the biblical term "Judea and Samaria" for the West Bank. Colleagues viewed the firing as a warning that only messaging explicitly pro-Israel and fully aligned with the administration's stance will be tolerated within the department. Far-right figures also accused Ghoreishi of anti-Trump and pro-Iranian views, citing his background. The State Department defended the firing, emphasizing the need for employees to adhere to official White House policy positions.