Rector of St Andrews University dismissed after accusing Israel of genocide

The rector of St Andrews University in Scotland has been dismissed from her position and removed from her role as a trustee after she accused Israel of apartheid, illegal occupation, genocide and the imposition of a siege in Gaza in an e-mail calling for a ceasefire.

Stella Maris condemned the decision to remove her from the roles following an investigation commissioned by the university, adding she plans on appealing the decision.

While the investigation concluded it would be "disproportionate" to dismiss Maris, the university court said it acted because Maris declined to accept the conclusions and she had made some students "fear for their safety".

Maris’ message said Israel’s attacks on Gaza were "genocidal" and that Israel had enforced "apartheid, siege, illegal occupation and collective punishment". However, also in her message, she denounced Hamas’ "war crimes", noting "the taking of hostages and deliberately targeting civilians".

The chair of the university court issued a statement on the dismissal saying they had no choice but to discharge her.

"Court wishes to stress that this decision has no bearing on Ms Maris' freedom of speech, to which she is entitled and for which, like everyone else, she is personally accountable. We recognise that parts of the rector’s statement were an important source of comfort to students affected by the conflict in Gaza," Ray Perman, said.

The investigation by Morag Ross KC concluded that some students, especially Jews, were distressed by Maris’ message, while acknowledging that others felt "validated and heard".

However Ross admitted that Maris' message was "not itself antisemitic" but claimed that it "might, directly or indirectly encourage the expression of antisemitism by others".

Maris said she is disappointed by the decision, after she was informed she will remain as rector until the end of her term in October 2026.

"It is clear that I have been removed from university court because I called for an end to Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians, and I will not apologise for doing so," she said.

"As a young, neurodiverse Black woman with limited financial resources, I have faced the full force of the university, including a KC investigation, all because I made a statement supported by the overwhelming majority of students, calling for an end to genocide," she added.

Maris said she will be supported by the European Legal Support Centre to appeal the decision, and that the "idea that Palestinian human rights and the war crimes of Israel in Gaza cannot be discussed in higher education is deeply concerning."