SNP MSP John Mason been stripped of the party whip following an “utterly abhorrent” social media post about the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Mr Mason has been effectively expelled from the party after posting on X: “If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they would have killed ten times as many.”
The Glasgow Shettleston MSP made the comment amid a row over a meeting with Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK, Daniela Grudsky.
Ms Grudsky earlier this week posted a picture on X with Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson.
The meeting last week sparked criticism, with Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer accusing the Scottish government of taking a “two-faced approach” by publicly condemning the actions of Israel while conducting “secret meetings”.
First Minister John Swinney claimed the meeting was “necessary” and allowed his government to directly put across the need for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.
On Thursday, Mr Mason shared his own picture taken with Ms Grudsky.
He posted on X: “Very pleased to see Angus Robertson met Israeli deputy ambassador Daniela Grudsky.
“I also met her last week. Useful discussion on what Israel hopes to achieve in Gaza.
“As UK learned in Ireland, to achieve peace we must talk to each other… including to people we disagree with.”
In response to his post, former SNP MSP Sandra White wrote: “We know what Israelis hope to achieve they are already committing genocide in Gaza.”
She added “innocent children are being massacred”, before stating: “You make me sick, John. The SNP should disown you as I have.”
In response, Mr Mason wrote the post that has seen him lose the party whip.
Israel has strongly denied accusations of genocide.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Aftermath of Israeli strike in Lebanon
Read more:
Hamas rejects Biden’s optimism over ceasefire deal
Inside West Bank village targeted by Israeli settlers
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
In a statement, Mr Mason said his “primary desire” is peace, with the UK playing its part to encourage all sides to talk and negotiate.
He added: “Too many lives have already been lost in Israel, Gaza, and beyond and, as I said when I spoke in parliament, many people feel that Israel has moved from a position of self-defence to seeking revenge.
“However, I personally do not believe that Israel has tried to commit, has committed, or is committing genocide.”
The withdrawal of the whip means Mr Mason must sit as an independent MSP until it is restored.
An SNP spokesperson said: “To flippantly dismiss the death of more than 40,000 Palestinians is completely unacceptable. There can be no room in the SNP for this kind of intolerance.
“The chief whip has today withdrawn the whip from John Mason MSP with immediate effect, pending internal parliamentary group due process.”
The spokesperson added that the SNP group will meet to discuss the matter, “with a recommendation that the whip be suspended from John Mason for a fixed period of time because of this utterly abhorrent comment”.