Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Queens Student Accused Of Spying For Israel Released From Egypt
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Oct 27, 2011
Modified Oct 27, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Oct 27, 2011
Modified Oct 27, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Ilan Grapel, the 27-year-old law student from Hollis Hills detained in Egypt since June and accused of spying for Israel, has been released in exchange for 25 Egyptians held in Israeli jails.
Grapel, who is a dual citizen of America and Israel and studies at Emory Law School, was volunteering at a Cairo-based refugee organization when he was arrested. His friends and family vehemently denied that Grapel, who speaks Arabic and served in the Israeli army, was doing anything illegal. After months of negotiation, Egyptian authorities agreed to turn Grapel over to Israel, in exchange for the release of 25 Egyptian prisoners, most of whom were busted for smuggling and infiltration. Grapel is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem before flying back to New York with his mother, who flew to Israel to pick her son up. (This Israeli site has the emotional video of the two reuniting.)
"It's over now," Grapel's father told the Daily News. "I feel so relieved. I'm still trying to catch my breath. I can't quite believe it. It hasn't really sunk in yet." When asked if his son would ever go to Egypt again, the elder Grapel responded, "My son is an adventurer...He is a grown man and he makes his own decisions. But I hope he stays close to home for at least a little while."
Tagged
egypt
ilan grapel
israel
queens
release
spy
Jamie Feldmar
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .