‘We're not really threatening' – Irish activist, 71, arrested in West Bank by Israel did nothing ‘to warrant detention'
A SWEDISH woman arrested by Israeli authorities in the West Bank along with Irish woman Deirdre 'D' Murphy insists they did nothing wrong.
Furious Susanne Bjork, who was
1
Irish woman Deirdre 'D' Murphy was arrested in the West Bank
Ms Murphy, who is 71 and originally from
ISM said Ms Murphy was arrested in the village of Khalet Al-Daba'a in Masafer Yatta in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
They were interrogated in a local police station accused of being in a military zone, as parts of Masafer Yatta have been designated by Israeli authorities a closed military zone since the 1980s.
Speaking to
Most read in Irish News
'People are absolutely terrified and the escalation of violence and settler violence and demolitions happening all over the West Bank is just horrendous and no one's reporting on this.
'I mean our governments are completely ignoring the situation not just in Gaza, but also in the West Bank. It's people like D and myself who are highlighting the situation.'
This was the first time that Ms Bjork had been arrested, but it was not the first time she had experienced such intimidation.
She explained: 'Usually that would have meant a ban from a certain area, perhaps, that you were not allowed to enter that area.
Most read in The Irish Sun
'But my lawyer said that this is a new policy that they've implemented in the last few months, where they arrest people and deport people straight away and send them to immigration hearing at Ben Gurion.
'And this is, I think, quite a new policy.
Israeli military says it began extensive ground operations in northern and southern Gaza
'They're just trying to get rid of anyone who tried to document the reality of the occupation and the war crimes taking place.'
When asked if she would return, Ms Bjork said she would if she could, but it seemed unlikely because she did not receive any of the documentation she was promised at the police hearing.
'They were supposed to provide us with an English transcript of the interview. I never received that. I also didn't receive any protocol from the immigration hearing.'
AWAITING COURT HEARING
Ms Murphy was initially held in a detention centre at Ben Gurion Airport.
However, ISM said she will be transported to another facility to await a court hearing.
Her pal added: 'The immigration officer brought up charges, saying that we were threatening and humiliating soldiers and police.
'D is a 71-year-old woman, I am a 48-year-old woman. We're not really threatening. We definitely wouldn't be threatening heavily armed men.'
Ms Bjork said that Ms Murphy was still being detained because she had decided to contest her charges, rather than agree to leave.
'FALSE ACCUSATIONS'
She explained: "D is still detained. After we had done the immigration hearing, we had separate hearings, but I was told that my visa had been cancelled. I was now in Israel illegally and I was detained.
"Legally, there's a three-day turnaround for them to deport you, but I had signed a paper to say I was willing to take the first flight out.
"I was put on a plane to Athens. D, however, decided to fight this deportation, because we had done nothing wrong. These are completely false accusations."
She added: "And so, she has remained in detention, waiting to see a judge, which I don't know when that may be."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Almost four out of 10 Irish earners are paying no income tax, says Revenue
While the number of taxpayer units earning enough to be liable for the standard rate will be just over 2.2 million, an estimated 1.06 million of these, or 30pc, will not pay anything because their liability is fully covered by their tax credits. Another 256,600 taxpayer units, or 7pc of the total, are exempt from income tax. The statistics, contained in an answer by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to a Dáil question, means 37pc of earners will pay no income tax this year. In an annual report on the Irish economy, published yesterday, the European Commission emphasised the need to reduce the risks created by the high concentration of tax revenue among a relatively small number of payers. Ireland should broaden its tax base, given the reliance on relatively few foreign-owned multinationals, and there is particular scope for expanding the local property charge, the commission says. 'Ireland's labour-tax system is highly progressive, but it relies on a narrow tax base,' according to the report, which says the top 10pc of taxpayers accounted for approximately 60pc of the tax yield in 2022. This concentration of revenue means the tax base is vulnerable to economic shifts. Ireland's labour-tax revenues are well below the EU average, and 'to cope with high projected budget expenses, diversification in Ireland's public revenue structure is warranted', the report says. Ireland's share of labour taxes as a proportion of GDP is not even half the EU average, and remains below the EU average when adjusted to GNI*, a measure of economic activity that takes out the distorting effect of multinationals. There is also scope to expand the local property charge, since the revenue collected – which was 1.8pc of GNI* in 2022 – is also below the EU average, which was 2.1pc that year. On the spending side, the European Commission calls on Ireland to 'reinforce' defence spending in line with decisions reached by the European Council in March. The report points out that spending on defence in Ireland remained stable at 0.2pc of GDP between 2021 and 2023. According to its forecast, it will remain at this level for both last year and this year. This means there has been no change in four years. As the healthcare system is overly reliant on costly hospital care, exacerbated by the lack of universal primary care coverage, there is scope for reform to alleviate the strain on hospitals The commission says there are still concerns about the impact that spending by the healthcare system is having on fiscal sustainability. The ageing of the population is going to mean an increase in health spending of 1.5pc of GDP by 2070, while across the EU the average increase is projected to be 0.4pc. 'As the healthcare system is overly reliant on costly hospital care, exacerbated by the lack of universal primary care coverage, there is scope for reform to alleviate the strain on hospitals,' the report says. Given the heightened political uncertainty, Ireland's dependence on foreign multinationals needs to be looked at, and the European Commission warns there is an 'urgent need' to build a more resilient, innovation-driven domestic economy. It points out that spending on research and development (R&D) in Ireland is at one of the lowest rates in the EU, accounting for just 0.4pc of GNI*. This has led to a noticeable technology innovation gap between Irish SMEs and their counterparts in comparable European countries. 'Boosting R&D expenditure and providing targeted Research and Innovation (R&I) support could help boost SME productivity,' it says.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Almost 40pc of Irish earners are paying no income tax, says Revenue
While the number of taxpayer units earning enough to be liable for the standard rate will be just over 2.2 million, an estimated 1.06 million of these, or 30pc, will not pay anything because their liability is fully covered by their tax credits. Another 256,600 taxpayer units, or 7pc of the total, are exempt from income tax. The statistics, contained in an answer by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to a Dáil question, means 37pc of earners will pay no income tax this year. In an annual report on the Irish economy, published yesterday, the European Commission emphasised the need to reduce the risks created by the high concentration of tax revenue among a relatively small number of payers. Ireland should broaden its tax base, given the reliance on relatively few foreign-owned multinationals, and there is particular scope for expanding the local property charge, the commission says. 'Ireland's labour-tax system is highly progressive, but it relies on a narrow tax base,' according to the report, which says the top 10pc of taxpayers accounted for approximately 60pc of the tax yield in 2022. This concentration of revenue means the tax base is vulnerable to economic shifts. Ireland's labour-tax revenues are well below the EU average, and 'to cope with high projected budget expenses, diversification in Ireland's public revenue structure is warranted', the report says. Ireland's share of labour taxes as a proportion of GDP is not even half the EU average, and remains below the EU average when adjusted to GNI*, a measure of economic activity that takes out the distorting effect of multinationals. There is also scope to expand the local property charge, since the revenue collected – which was 1.8pc of GNI* in 2022 – is also below the EU average, which was 2.1pc that year. On the spending side, the European Commission calls on Ireland to 'reinforce' defence spending in line with decisions reached by the European Council in March. The report points out that spending on defence in Ireland remained stable at 0.2pc of GDP between 2021 and 2023. According to its forecast, it will remain at this level for both last year and this year. This means there has been no change in four years. ADVERTISEMENT As the healthcare system is overly reliant on costly hospital care, exacerbated by the lack of universal primary care coverage, there is scope for reform to alleviate the strain on hospitals The commission says there are still concerns about the impact that spending by the healthcare system is having on fiscal sustainability. The ageing of the population is going to mean an increase in health spending of 1.5pc of GDP by 2070, while across the EU the average increase is projected to be 0.4pc. 'As the healthcare system is overly reliant on costly hospital care, exacerbated by the lack of universal primary care coverage, there is scope for reform to alleviate the strain on hospitals,' the report says. Given the heightened political uncertainty, Ireland's dependence on foreign multinationals needs to be looked at, and the European Commission warns there is an 'urgent need' to build a more resilient, innovation-driven domestic economy. It points out that spending on research and development (R&D) in Ireland is at one of the lowest rates in the EU, accounting for just 0.4pc of GNI*. This has led to a noticeable technology innovation gap between Irish SMEs and their counterparts in comparable European countries. 'Boosting R&D expenditure and providing targeted Research and Innovation (R&I) support could help boost SME productivity,' it says.
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Aid centres closed again today in Gaza following Israeli attacks on crowds
AID DISTRIBUTION SITES run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) are to remain closed again today, while Israeli strikes killed at least 10 people in the Palestinian enclave this morning. The GHF's aid centres were closed yesterday after the Israeli army declared the access roads 'combat zones' and following multiple incidents in which Israeli forces have opened fire on crowds of hungry people. The UN has said the entire population of the Palestinian territory is at risk of famine due to Israel's blocking of aid. The highly controversial and shadowy organisation has been condemned by humanitarian organisations and UN agencies, who say the operation does not comply with humanitarian principles. The GHF said its centres would be closed today 'due to maintenance and repair work being done at the sites'. It said it was working to make the distribution of food boxes 'as safe as possible, despite the difficult circumstances'. 'We strongly urge all those heading to our locations to follow the routes set by the IDF to ensure safe passage,' the GHF said in a post on Facebook last night. This morning, Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed at least 10 people. 'Ten martyrs so far resulting from Israeli strikes since dawn,' agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told the AFP news agency. He said the strikes had targeted an area where displaced civilians were sheltering in the southern city of Khan Younis and houses in Gaza City and the central town of Deir el-Balah. According to the health ministry in Gaza, at least 4,335 people have been killed since Israel broke a ceasefire with Hamas resumed its campaign on 18 March, taking the war's overall toll to 54,607, most of whom were civilians. US vetoes UN resolution Last night in New York, the United States used its veto power to prevent the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution that would have demanded an unconditional ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. 'Today, the United States sent a strong message by vetoing a counterproductive UN Security Council resolution on Gaza targeting Israel,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement after the 14 to 1 vote. Advertisement US Ambassador Dorothy Shea vetoes the US Security Council resolution Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo He said Washington would not support any text that 'draws a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas, or disregards Israel's right to defend itself. 'The United States will continue to stand with Israel at the UN.' The draft resolution had demanded 'an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties.' It also called for the 'immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups,' and demanded the lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office thanked US President Donald Trump 'for once again showing our enemies that there is no daylight between us'. That is the only way to destroy the Hamas terrorists who are still holding 58 innocent hostages in the dungeons of Gaza. The civilized world should demand their immediate and unconditional release. — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 4, 2025 Bodies of hostages recovered Netanyahu also said today that Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of two people who were captured during the Hamas-led attack of October 2023. In an operation conducted by Israeli intelligence services and the military, 'the bodies of two of our hostages, held by the murderous terrorist organisation Hamas, were returned to Israel,' Netanyahu said in a post on X. He said the two dead hostages were Judy Weinstein-Haggai and Gadi Haggai, who 'were murdered on 7 October and abducted to the Gaza Strip'. ' The heart aches for this most terrible loss,' he said. 'We will not rest nor be silent until we bring all our hostages home—both the living and the fallen.' The Hamas-led attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Another 251 people were also taken hostage, most of whom have been released in captive exchanges during ceasefires. With reporting from AFP Need more information on what is happening in Israel and Palestine? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to navigating the news online. Visit Knowledge Bank Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
