The Daily Star Ireland
An Irish woman in her seventies has been detained in Israel following her arrest in the southern part of the occupied West Bank. Deirdre Murphy, originally from Douglas in County Cork and now residing in Swansea, Wales, is contesting a deportation order issued by Israeli authorities.
Murphy, a longtime volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), was taken into custody in the village of Khalet Al-Daba’a, located in the Masafer Yatta region near Hebron. The area has been the focus of ongoing displacement and military control, with much of it designated as a closed military zone by Israeli authorities since the 1980s.
Incident in Masafer Yatta and Detention at Ben Gurion Airport
According to ISM representatives, Murphy and Swedish volunteer Susanne Björk, aged 48, were present in the village on May 31 when they were ordered to leave by Israeli military forces. As they attempted to comply, they were reportedly stopped and detained by individuals wearing military uniforms. ISM alleges the arresting individuals were Israeli settlers also serving as military reservists, who subsequently contacted police to detain the two women.
Following their arrest, both women were transported to a local police station where they were interrogated. Authorities cited the presence of the volunteers in a restricted military zone as grounds for their detention. ISM notes that the region, particularly Khalet Al-Daba’a, has seen widespread home demolitions, with an estimated 90 percent of the village’s residences reportedly destroyed. Remaining families are now said to be living in makeshift shelters such as tents and caves.
Murphy and Björk were taken to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, where they were presented with deportation orders during a formal hearing. Björk was deported on the morning following the hearing, while Murphy has opted to challenge the order. She remains in custody at a detention facility and is expected to be transferred to another center while awaiting a court hearing.
Consular Support and Family Concern
Murphy’s son, Dale Ryan, who also lives in Swansea, spoke to Irish media outlet RTÉ News about the situation. He confirmed that his mother has been in the West Bank for approximately five weeks as part of her current trip, but she has been active in the region for over two decades. He added that she has built long-term personal connections with Palestinian families in the area.
Ryan also expressed concern over his mother’s wellbeing, given her age and the reported conditions in the detention facility. He noted that while she has generally been in good health, the physical and emotional toll of detention could pose serious risks.
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has acknowledged the case and confirmed that consular assistance is being provided. As of now, there has been no official comment from Israeli authorities regarding the charges or legal proceedings.
