Colonel Nathan McCormack, who was responsible for the Levant and Egypt branch of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's J5 Planning Directorate, was relieved of his post after an internal investigation was opened into his posts on the X platform, which included criticism of the Israeli attacks on Gaza, relations between Tel Aviv and Washington, and the conduct of the Israeli leadership.
A Joint Chiefs of Staff source told the website that McCormack had published "hundreds of statements deemed dangerous," stressing that these statements "do not reflect the position of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the US Department of Defense." He added that McCormack's account was suspended after he became an "easy target" for intelligence agencies due to his posting of sensitive photos and job information.
In a tweet dated October 2023, McCormack wrote that "Israel disproportionately targets Palestinian civilians every time," noting that Tel Aviv "has been accused of committing genocide for years."
The American colonel also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he is "prolonging the conflict for political gain." He added, "Netanyahu and his Jewish supremacist allies are determined to perpetuate the conflict to serve their own agendas."
McCormack also released details of his interactions with Israeli military commanders and humanitarian aid coordinators in the Gaza Strip, which authorities deemed a disclosure of sensitive information.
In other statements on his account, McCormack described Israel as "the United States' worst ally," asking, "Have we become Israel's proxy force without realizing it?"
He also criticized his country's position on the conflict, saying, "We have never been an honest mediator, but rather provided broad cover for Israel's bad behavior," stressing that "partnership with Israel has brought us nothing but the hostility of millions of people in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia."
He considered that pro-Israel lobby groups within the United States "influence foreign policy priorities and give Tel Aviv an unjustified advantage," noting that Western countries, in turn, avoid directing any direct criticism at Israel despite the escalating violations
