SNP MSP John Mason been stripped of the celebration whip following an “utterly abhorrent” social media submit concerning the Israel-Hamas battle.
Mr Mason has been successfully expelled from the celebration after posting on X: “If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they would have killed ten times as many.”
The Glasgow Shettleston MSP made the remark amid a row over a gathering with Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK, Daniela Grudsky.
Ms Grudsky earlier this week posted an image on X with Scottish Exterior Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson.
The assembly final week sparked criticism, with Scottish Inexperienced MSP Ross Greer accusing the Scottish authorities of taking a “two-faced approach” by publicly condemning the actions of Israel whereas conducting “secret meetings”.
First Minister John Swinney claimed the assembly was “necessary” and allowed his authorities to immediately put throughout the necessity for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.
On Thursday, Mr Mason shared his personal image taken with Ms Grudsky.
He posted on X: “Very happy to see Angus Robertson met Israeli deputy ambassador Daniela Grudsky.
“I additionally met her final week. Helpful dialogue on what Israel hopes to attain 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 submit, 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”, earlier than stating: “You make me sick, John. The SNP should disown you as I have.”
In response, Mr Mason wrote the submit that has seen him lose the celebration whip.
Israel has strongly denied accusations of genocide.
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In an announcement, Mr Mason stated his “primary desire” is peace, with the UK enjoying its half to encourage all sides to speak and negotiate.
He added: “Too many lives have already been misplaced in Israel, Gaza, and past and, as I stated after I spoke in parliament, many individuals really feel that Israel has moved from a place of self-defence to in search of 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 should sit as an impartial MSP till it’s restored.
An SNP spokesperson stated: “To flippantly dismiss the demise of greater than 40,000 Palestinians is totally unacceptable. There will be no room within the SNP for this type 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 debate 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”.
