Relief following academic’s safe release

The University community was relieved to hear this week of the safe release of Dr Antonis Vradis who was amongst a group of activists detained by Israeli defence forces while taking part in what the Global Sumud Flotilla described as “a humanitarian aid mission” to Gaza.

Dr Vradis, from the School of Geography and Sustainable Development and a member of the University Court, had taken leave to join the GSF, a civilian fleet of around 50 sailing boats. He had made senior management aware of his plans prior to joining the flotilla and knew there was significant risk that he and others would be detained by Israel.

On Monday evening, the GSF reported that several vessels had been intercepted by Israeli commandos in international waters west of Cyprus, including the Greek delegation Dr Vradis had joined. It described the boarding as “another illegal, high-seas aggression” and shared a video stream showing commandos climbing on to boats while occupants raised their hands.

The University’s Public Affairs team immediately contacted local MP Wendy Chamberlain requesting she request urgent intervention by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Vice-Principal (Communications) Niall Scott also wrote directly to the Israeli Government to insist on his release.

The team then worked closely with Dr Vradis’ colleagues and family, as well as Mrs Chamberlain’s office, to find out more about the incident and where he had been taken.

It is understood that after the flotilla was seized, participants including Dr Vradis, were taken ashore at Ashod port in Israel and on to Ktziot prison on Wednesday evening. Videos shared on social media showing several handcuffed detainees being taunted by Israel’s security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, resulted in international condemnation. Posting on X, Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the actions violated, “the most basis standards of respect and dignity in the way people should be treated…We have demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities.”

Media reports say Israeli’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also been critical of the behaviour. However, commenting on the raid on the flotilla, which included the detention of Dr Margaret Connolly, sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, Netanyahu said it was, “effectively neutralizing a malicious plan designed to break the isolation we have imposed on Hamas terrorists in Gaza”.

Dr Vradis, co-founder of the Radical Urban Lab, works closely with a colleague in Gaza through a Virtual Fellowship scheme. In a blog posted on the Al Jazeera website on 11 May, shortly before the Flotilla set sail, he said: “ In defiance of Israel’s genocide, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, our fleet is moving forward….In their long history, Gaza flotillas have often been decried as performative, except, of course, they have yielded some very concrete results: back in October, despite being violently intercepted once again, the GSF mission contributed to the mounting pressure on Israel to accept a ceasefire, which was announced days after the violent interception.”

Yesterday (Thursday) evening Dr Vradis’s sister, Eleni, contacted the Public Affairs team to confirm her brother had arrived safely in Turkey following deportation from Israel.

The news was welcomed by University Principal, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, who issued an email to all staff and students thanking those who had been in touch to express concern for Dr Vradis.

She said: “I would like to thank our MP, Wendy Chamberlain, who ensured the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office reacted with appropriate speed to Dr Vradis’s situation, and the team of people which has worked assiduously behind the scenes at the University over the past 72 hours to pressure the Israeli authorities to ensure Dr Vradis’s wellbeing and ensure his prompt release from custody.”

Efforts to ensure Dr Vradis safe return were supported by the Students’ Association and the University Rector who encouraged those with concerns to contact Israel’s Foreign Minister and the Embassy while student societies held a demonstration on Thursday Support was also voiced by Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association, which works to build links between the two Scottish and Palestinian cities.