THE SNP MSP who had the whip removed over comments he made about Gaza came under renewed criticism today after saying he “completely stands by” the “deeply offensive” remarks.

John Mason said he did not expect his party to suspend the whip due to his tweet and believed he had done the “right thing.”

But SNP Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee said the Glasgow Shettleston MSP’s comments were “deeply offensive, hugely inaccurate and it’s not in line with the values of the SNP.”

He said Mr Mason should “go and educate himself” on genocide.

It comes as Mr McKee’s Cabinet colleague, External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson, faces a continuing backlash from others in the SNP due to his meeting with an Israeli diplomat.

But speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland radio programme, Mr Mason backed Mr Robertson’s decision to meet Israel’s deputy ambassador Daniela Grudsky.

He said “I completely stand by the tweet” where he posted: “If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they would have killed 10 times as many.”

The SNP’s Dalkeith branch has reportedly submitted a motion of censure against Mr Robertson ahead of the party conference starting at the end of the month.

SNP MSP for Cunninghame South Ruth Maguire said: “I share in the anger, hurt, frustration and frankly embarrassment felt by many party members that a Scottish government Cabinet Secretary has allowed themselves to appear to legitimise a genocidal, apartheid regime who continue to commit war crimes.”

Last week, First Minister John Swinney said the meeting was “necessary” and that Mr Robertson had pressed Ms Grudsky on “the killing and suffering of innocent civilians.”