The rector of one of Scotland’s top universities has been accused of “fostering hate” after she accused Israel of committing genocide in Palestine.

And in a statement issued in response to an open letter from students, alumni and others, the senior leadership team of the University of St Andrews has disowned Stella Maris’s remarks, saying it was “utterly dismayed” that she had “put her right to freedom of expression ahead of her duty to represent all students”.

A former English and philosophy graduate at the university, Ms Maris was only elected to the post of rector last month.

However, a lengthy email she sent to students has already caused considerable upset.

In it, she described a vigil held at the university earlier this month “following weeks of genocidal attacks by the Israeli government against Gaza”.

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Specifically, she accused Israel of “practices such as apartheid, siege, illegal occupation and collective punishment, which have been observed in the treatment of Palestinians”.

Her message also featured links to various websites including one called The Electronic Intifada, whose top story was headlined: “The evidence Israel killed its own citizens on 7 October.”

The open letter, signed by 1,400 students, relatives and others, called on Ms Maris to apologise.

Meanwhile the University of St Andrews Jewish Society described her remarks as “divisive, harmful and not based in fact”.

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The statement added: “Whilst constructing this statement, Rector Maris met the Jewish Society, but her published statement was significantly different to that which was shared with us, deliberately misleading members of our community.

“We call for an apology from Rector Maris for the abuse of power that she has demonstrated.”

In response, Ms Maris said she would not “have antisemitism weaponised against me”, warning: “You will never intimidate me into not speaking truth to power”.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Ms Maris struck a defiant note, denying there was a “lack of student support” for her stance and claiming the letters of support she had received “clearly indicate otherwise, reinforcing my confidence in the statement I made and its representation of the students who elected me”.

She was backed up by a staff letter of support signed by many from the university’s School of International Relations, which defended her use of the terms ‘genocide’, ‘apartheid’ and ‘occupation’.

However, Friday’s leadership team’s statement, signed by among others Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE, said: “As the senior management team which leads the University of St Andrews, we are utterly dismayed that the Rector, on this occasion, put her right to freedom of expression ahead of her duty to represent all students, and to be concerned for their welfare.

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“We know that while some may have welcomed the message, others have been deeply offended and concerned by it.

“While every one of us shares a desire for peace and an end to hostilities in Israel and Gaza, we regret that her message, the language it used, and some of the sources it cited have caused alarm, division, and harm in our community, and more widely.”

The statement added: “We do not believe the Rector intended to cause harm to students with her message.

“While she is accountable only to the student body whose interests she was elected to serve, we have, as individuals and as a group of senior leaders, asked her to reflect seriously on the evidence of the upset and fear she has caused, and to take such action as is necessary to restore confidence in her leadership amongst all students, and the wider community.”

A letter jointly signed by Prof Mapstone and Ms Maris sent to students yesterday said Ms Maris “wished to acknowledge the distress” which her message had caused.

It added: “She also wishes it to be known that she will advocate for the voices of Palestinian, Jewish, BAME and other groups of students affected directly, and indirectly, by the war in Gaza and Israel to be heard.

“I wish to acknowledge the Rector’s stated commitment to put student interests ahead of all else, and I wish to unreservedly condemn the abuse she has received from sources outside the University in the wake of her message. Racism is utterly abhorrent, in all its forms.

“The Rector and I intend to pursue further mediation with the aim of restoring confidence amongst all in our community that St Andrews is a place in which all should feel safe, heard and supported.”

Speaking today, Ms Maris told Express.co.uk it was important to note that “a significant number” of students, staff and community members “have expressed their support for my humanitarian message”, reflecting “a strong consensus among the student body”.

She added: “Moreover, a group of staff members authored and signed a letter that not only echoes the sentiments of my initial statement but also elaborates on several points.

“Prior reports…suggested a lack of student support for my stance. However, these recent letters clearly indicate otherwise, reinforcing my confidence in the statement I made and its representation of the students who elected me.”

Regarding the Jewish Society’s allegations of misrepresentation, she said: “I want to clarify that during the drafting process of my statement, various groups including the St Andrews Jewish Society, Islamic Society, Black and Minority Ethnic Student Network, Amnesty International Student Group, and other community members were consulted.

“This consultation aimed to inform the content of my statement and gather insights on the climate in St Andrews. It was made clear that their role was not to dictate the content of the letter but to provide input.

“The Jewish Society, among others, offered their critique before the release of my statement. Taking into account the feedback from these groups, I adjusted the final draft to best capture the diverse perspectives of our student body.”

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