Swansea activist detained in Israel after standing with threatened West Bank villagers
Calls for justice as 70-year-old D. Murphy is held in Israeli prison amid crackdown on foreign observers
A SWANSEA-BASED peace activist is being detained in an Israeli prison after she was arrested while standing in solidarity with Palestinian families facing imminent displacement in the West Bank.
D. Murphy, a 70-year-old Irish citizen who resides in Swansea, was arrested alongside Swedish national Susanne Björk in the village of Khalet Al-Daba'a on May 31. Both women are reported to have complied with Israeli army orders but were accused of entering a restricted military area and failing to identify themselves.
Murphy has since been transferred from Ben Gurion Airport to Givon Prison in Ramla. Her legal team is in contact with Israeli authorities, but her family and supporters have yet to speak to her directly. Björk was deported on Sunday, while Murphy is opposing deportation and faces a hearing before an Israeli judge.
Her son, Dale Ryan, told campaigners: 'As far as I can see, her only crime was observing crimes against Palestinian people. I'm proud of my mother for standing up for human rights.'
Murphy and Björk were present in Khalet Al-Daba'a, a small village in the Masafer Yatta region, to witness and report on the treatment of residents. The area has been subject to severe restrictions and demolitions by Israeli forces, with activists alleging ethnic cleansing and illegal land seizure by settlers.
Masafer Yatta has long been under threat of forced removal since Israeli authorities designated it as a military firing zone in the 1980s. In recent months, violence has escalated. On May 5, Israeli forces destroyed 90% of homes and basic infrastructure in Khalet Al-Daba'a. Since then, settlers have returned almost daily, reportedly harassing remaining families and attempting to establish an illegal outpost.
Murphy said in a statement before her arrest: 'This isn't about politics. It's about justice. Ordinary people like me are answering the call to witness what's happening because most governments are doing nothing.'
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM), which organises peaceful observation missions in the region, said that Israeli authorities are increasingly targeting foreign nationals. A US citizen was deported from the same village in March, and the Israeli government has announced plans to build 22 new settlements despite international rulings declaring them illegal.
The situation has prompted calls from human rights groups and campaigners in the UK and Ireland to urge the Foreign Office to intervene and demand Murphy's release.
The Herald understands that Ms Murphy is a long-time activist who previously participated in humanitarian missions in Palestine. Her supporters say she poses no threat and was acting peacefully when arrested.
A spokesperson for ISM said: 'International observers are being criminalised simply for documenting what is happening on the ground. We urge Welsh and UK representatives to stand up for D. Murphy and for the people of Masafer Yatta.'
The UK Government has yet to issue a public response regarding Murphy's detention.
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