An SNP MP who was suspended from the party’s Holyrood faction over comments about Israel has said he “fully” stands by his comments.
John Mason was removed from the whip last weekend after posting on X that there had been “no genocide” in Gaza.
He told BBC Good Morning Scotland that the situation in Gaza was “not comparable” to previous examples of genocide.
Finance Minister Ivan McKee called Mason’s comments insulting, inaccurate and inconsistent with the SNP’s values.
SNP MPs are meeting to discuss a possible permanent suspension for Mr Mason when Parliament reconvenes next month.
The withdrawal of the party leader means that Mason must sit as an independent MP until the party leader is reinstated.
His message was in response to criticism within the SNP of a meeting that took place between the Foreign Secretary Angus Robertson and Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to the UK, Daniela Grudsky.
The Times has reported that the Dalkeith branch of the SNP has tabled a motion at the party conference – to be held in Edinburgh next week – calling for Mr Robertson to be suspended as a minister, saying he has brought the party into disrepute.
The outspoken supporter told Good Morning Scotland: “I fully support the tweet saying this is not genocide.
“If we look at other examples of genocide, historically speaking, it is not comparable to what is happening in Gaza.
“And if Israel had wanted to commit genocide, they could unfortunately have killed many more people.”
‘Under threat’
According to Mr Mason, Israel and Jews in Scotland feel “very threatened”.
He added: “I would like to see Scotland and the UK acting more as peace brokers, rather than encouraging either side.”
When asked about losing the whip, Mr Mason replied: “Sometimes you have to do the right thing and face the consequences.”
The MSP, who also met Ms Grudsky, said Mr Robertson’s role was to meet people from all over the world, even those he disagrees with.
He said, “We’re not going to find a solution to this unless people actually talk to each other.”
Mr Mason said he wanted clarity on how the Israeli government was trying to resolve the conflict and what its goals were, but was “disappointed” by the deputy ambassador’s response.
He added: “The SNP exists and is united for Scottish independence, and I hope that is what we can focus on.”
Mr McKee said the party was right to remove Mr Mason’s party leader over his comment.
“It is deeply offensive, completely wrong and not in keeping with the values of the SNP,” he told Good Morning Scotland.
The SNP minister said Mason needed to ‘educate’ himself by United Nations Definition of Genocide.
He reiterated the Scottish government’s calls for a ceasefire, humanitarian corridors and recognition of the state of Palestine.
According to Mr McKee, Mr Robertson’s meeting was intended to “hold the Israeli government to account and make clear that there has been a long-standing opposition to their behaviour”.
However, he acknowledged that “many people within the party are very angry about the current situation”.
Mr McKee said there was “no harm” in providing more clarity on what was said at the meeting.
He added: “Angus Robertson is a very experienced politician and I’m sure he will reflect on what was and wasn’t discussed at that meeting.”
The Israeli military has launched a campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 that killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostage.
More than 40,000 people have been killed since then, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza.
