Scots MP branded 'despicable' over sickening insult to Israeli hostages in Gaza
Angus MacDonald provoked outrage after claiming if the terror group released the hostages they seized in 2023 then Israel would 'obliterate' Palestine.
The Liberal Democrats are now facing calls to suspend the MP for his 'vile moral bankruptcy' about the innocent victims of Hamas.
Anti-Semitism campaigners joined political opponents in condemning the remarks, made in response to one of his constituents on social media site Facebook.
Mr MacDonald, who represents Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, last night refused to issue an apology to the families of innocent Israeli hostages and the Scottish Lib Dems defended the comments and claimed he was not justifying or defending hostage-taking.
Sammy Stein, chairman of the Glasgow Friends of Israel group, said: 'I believe it is particularly despicable of Angus MacDonald MP to defend the right of Hamas, an internationally proscribed terrorist organisation, to kidnap and hold innocent Israelis, including women, kids, babies and the elderly, most of whom were kidnapped from their homes on October 7 2023.Angus MacDonald
'There is absolutely no doubt that if Hamas released the hostages, the fighting would stop. MacDonald is delusional if he believes that continuing to hold them would persuade Israel to agree to a ceasefire.
'As long as the fighting continues, more innocent civilians are likely to be killed. The reason Hamas is not releasing the hostages is that they want to see more civilians killed, thus provoking more criticism from the world against Israel.
'I would like to think that most reasonable and thoughtful people will see him for the fool he is.'
Mr MacDonald, who was elected for the first time in last year's general election, had initially posted on Facebook about his support for the UK recognising Palestine as a separate state.
When asked by one of his constituents, Facebook user Billy Rodgers, if he had written to Hamas to ask them to release the remaining hostages, Mr MacDonald replied: 'If they release the hostages then Israel will completely obliterate any of Palestine left, it's the only bargaining power they have left.'
Mr Rodgers replied: 'So you support the use of hostages taking as a legitimate strategy. I know who I won't be voting for in the next election to serve as my local MP.'
A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitisim said: 'To refer to hostages as a 'bargaining chip' is vile moral bankruptcy.
'These are innocent human beings who were violently abducted amid the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. They have been held in inhumane, terrifying conditions for nearly two years.
'Dehumanising them in this way not only erases their suffering but also plays directly into the hands of their captors, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Liberal Democrats must suspend Angus MacDonald pending a full investigation.'
Jamie Halcro Johnston, Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands region, said: 'It is astonishing and deplorable that Angus MacDonald is apparently trying to justify Hamas terrorists continuing to hold innocent Israelis hostage nearly two years on from the barbaric October 7 attack.
'His comments are not just grossly offensive, they're naïve.
'We all want to see an end to the awful scenes in the Middle East, particularly the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza - and the release of all remaining hostages would strengthen the hand of international leaders in pushing for a permanent ceasefire.'
The comments remained on Facebook last night after Mr MacDonald and the Scottish Liberal Democrats were approached by the Mail about them and he was asked whether he would apologise to the families of Israeli hostages.
A Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesman said: 'Angus wasn't defending or justifying hostage taking - he was describing the widely accepted view that Hamas is very regrettably using the hostages as leverage against Israel.
'Angus and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have been completely clear that Hamas should release the hostages immediately and unconditionally - and that there is no place for the terror group in the future of Gaza.
'Angus has used his position as an MP to campaign for the release of the hostages, and has made clear, on the parliamentary record, his disgust at Hamas's treatment of the hostages.'
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