A conservative commentator has been banned from appearing on US television network CNN after making derogatory comments against a pro-Palestinian journalist.

Ryan Girdusky told Mehdi Hasan, a British-American broadcaster and former MSNBC correspondent, “I hope your pager doesn’t go off.” The comment was a clear reference to the exploding communications equipment that targeted members of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The pair were part of a panel on CNN Newsnight with presenter Abby Phillip, discussing the BBC’s controversial comments comedian Tony Hinchcliffe Sunday during a Donald Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in New York.

During the debate, Mr Hasan said that he is used to being called an anti-Semite because of his support for the Palestinian people, to which Mr Girdusky responded with a comment that seemed to refer to the exploding pagers that 12 people killed and injured thousands of people last month.

“Did you just say I should die? You just said I should be killed,” Hasan said in response.

Mr. Girdusky later apologized, claiming he had heard Mr. Hasan say he supported the militant group Hamas. After the show returned from an ad break, both panelists had left.

In a statement shared by Ms. Phillip on X, CNN said: “There is no room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our broadcast.

“We strive to promote thoughtful conversations and debates among people who strongly disagree, to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding.

“But we will not allow guests to be humiliated or the line of civility to be crossed. Ryan Girdusky will no longer be welcome on our network.”

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Ms Phillip added that the network had not asked Mr Hasan to leave the debate and that he would be welcome to return in the future.

Mr. Hasan is an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza. His news organization Zeteo released a documentary in June titled Israel’s Reel Extremism and earlier this month he debated Piers Morgan Uncensored with a former Israeli military colonel.

Hours after the heated exchange, Mr. Girdusky appeared to defend his actions, writing on social media: “You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and took money from Qatari-funded media.

“Apparently you can’t get on CNN if you make a joke.”

Mr. Girdusky later wrote a piece for his weekly newsletter, the National Populist Newsletter, in which he says he offers his “best advice for future banned conservatives.”

Both Mr Girdusky and Mr Hasan did not respond to Sky News’ US partner network, NBC, for comment.