The Greens are embroiled in another anti-Semitism crisis after leaked messages exposed members discussing 'killing Zionists'.

Party activists claimed that British Jews were a 'weapon' of Israel and described violence towards Jewish people as 'understandable' in messages shared in a private WhatsApp group.

A Green member even described Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – now a proscribed terror group in Britain – as 'part of a national liberation movement'.

The messages were shared on a WhatsApp group chat dubbed Greens Against Imperialism, which was set up by Sophus Magill, a Green parish councillor on the Isle of Wight.

In one set of messages, he wrote that 'Zionism has to go' and that 'the only solution is one equal state'.

Responding to whether this meant desiring Israel to be 'wiped off the map', Mr Magill wrote: 'Yes, I would like that'.

And another Green member wrote that protests against the Iranian regime this year 'were instigated and armed by the Americans and the Zionists' in messages seen by The Times.

David Taylor, the Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead, said the comments were 'sickening' and 'just go to show how extreme the Green Party has become'.

He added: 'The Greens must identify these members immediately, expel them from the party and report them to the police.'

Lord Walney, the government's former extremism tsar, said: 'This sinister justification of political violence from Green Party activists puts British Jews in increased danger of attack, and highlights the virulent anti-Semitism infecting much of the so-called progressive Left in the UK.

'If the Green Party continues to deny the extremism they are stoking, they should be treated in the same way as far right parties who excuse or promote violence.'

A spokesman for the Green Party said: 'We do not comment on internal party forums or discussions on WhatsApp groups that are not official party group channels.'

Mr Magill was approached by The Times for comment.