Scottish MSP John Mason expelled from SNP over 'abhorrent' Gaza comments

Scottish MSP John Mason has told The New Arab that he was reconsidering his political future after he was expelled from the Scottish National Party (SNP) after rejecting that Israel's war on Gaza amounts to genocide.

Mason, 67, initially had the SNP whip withdrawn in August and has now been expelled from the party for comments made about the genocide claims.

The MSP for Glasgow Shettleston dismissed concerns that Israel was violating the United Nations Genocide Convention, despite numerous claims by human rights groups and legal experts that Israel's assault on Gaza, which has killed over 42,000 people, amounts to genocide.  

"If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they would have killed ten times as many," Mason posted on X.

He was reacting to former SNP MSP Sandra White, who had said "We know what Israelis hope to achieve they are already committing genocide in Gaza", adding that "innocent children are being massacred".

After a meeting with the SNP's Member Conduct Committee on Saturday, Mason was expelled from the party.

The party had earlier described Mason’s remarks as "utterly abhorrent" when announcing the disciplinary action. 

Speaking to The New Arab, Mason said he was disappointed by the results of the committee but doubled down on his controversial comments, arguing it "should be possible to hold a variety of views on these topics and still be a member of the SNP".

"I continue in my belief that genocide is not happening in Gaza," he said, claiming that casualties in the war, do not add up to a genocide.

While 42,344 Palestinians have been registered killed, the difficulties of recording casualties accurately in the war along with non-direct deaths - e.g. from insufficient medical treatment, starvation, or diseases brought about by conditions in Gaza - means that the real death toll will likely be much higher, possibly in the hundreds of thousands, for a population of just 2.3 million. 

"I will take a few days to consider my political future, particularly whether I will appeal this decision or not. However, I will not be joining another party or standing down before the 2026 Scottish Parliament election," Mason added.

"Ultimately we need to see peace talks. Both sides need to accept the other’s right to exist and to start negotiations, however distasteful that might seem to them."

Mason's comments on genocide in Gaza came after meeting Israel's deputy ambassador to the UK Daniela Grudsky when she visited Scotland last August. 

Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson also met Grudsky leading to backlash among SNP members. 

Scottish First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney defended the meetings. 

Mason shared a photograph of his meeting with Grudsky online. Shortly after, he wrote the controversial post on Gaza on X that led to his party whip being withdrawn.

Mason maintains that his former party should allow for "a range of views" asserting that issues such as Israel's war on Gaza were "not central to the SNP's purposes".

Israel has conducted an indiscriminate bombing campaign of Gaza since October 2023, with Israeli forces currently intensifying their assault and siege of northern Gaza in an apparent bid to empty it of its inhabitants.

Several Israeli far-right leaders, including members of the cabinet, expressed genocidal intent and used dehumanising language, such as referring to Palestinians as "human animals".

In October last year, a YouGov poll revealed significant support for Palestinians among Scots when asked about their views in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The poll, which surveyed 2,574 adults in the UK, found that Scotland exhibited the highest support for Palestinians in the country, with 30 percent expressing their backing.  

The New Arab has approached the SNP for comment.