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Irish Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Hearing scheduled in July for Irish pro-Palestinian activist detained in West Bank
A hearing in Israel for an Irish woman who is the subject of an Israeli deportation order has been scheduled for next month, according to the pro-Palestinian activist group she was volunteering with in the West Bank. According to the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Máire ní Mhurchú, also known as 'D' Murphy (70), was brought to a hearing on Wednesday. She is currently detained in Givon Prison in the Israeli city of Ramla after challenging the deportation order made against her following her arrest in the West Bank last weekend. The group said she was not given legal representation or an opportunity to obtain legal advice and refused to participate in the proceedings. Her hearing has been scheduled for July. READ MORE According to an ISM statement, Ms Murphy 'informed her family, via a phone call she was allowed to make, that she was deliberately given the wrong number for her lawyer. 'The last time Murphy was able to speak to the lawyer was on Monday, and as of today we still do not know the outcome of the hearing. These tactics of denying legal advice are not new to activists standing in solidarity with Palestinians as Israeli authorities continue to act with impunity.' The Israeli police and the Israeli ambassador responsible for Ireland, Dana Erlich, did not respond to a request for comment. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin said c it is providing consular assistance and, as per protocol, does not comment on the details of individual cases. Ms Murphy was detained by Israeli police on May 31st near Khalet al-Daba'a, a Palestinian village that has been largely demolished by Israeli forces, along with Swedish activist Susanne Björk (48). Ms Björk left Israel on Monday after a deportation order was also made against her. Both women deny that the grounds on which the orders were made against them and, in particular, deny failing to comply with an order to leave a military zone by Israeli soldiers. A video provided to The Irish Times shows the women at Khalet al-Daba'a speaking with three Israeli soldiers who handed them back their passports and told them 'to have a good walk and a good day.' Ms Murphy, who is from Cork but lives in Wales, is a founding member of Swansea Palestine Community Link and was previously detained in 2011, when she travelled to Israel with the group.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Irish pro-Palestinian activist arrested in West Bank, fights deportation order
The 70-year-old pro-Palestinian activist was allegedly arrested alongside 48-year-old Swedish activist Susanne Björk. Elderly Irish woman Máire ní Mhurchú, who is known as D Murphy, was reportedly arrested by the IDF in theWest Bank Palestinian village of Khalet al-Daba'a on Sunday night, Irish media reported on Monday. The 70-year-oldpro-Palestinian activist was allegedly arrested alongside 48-year-old Swedish activist Susanne Björk. The pair had been volunteering for the International Solidarity Movement when they refused IDF orders to leave the area. Irish media claimed they had initially been stopped by the Israeli military. Israel Police reportedly detained both women for being in a closed military zone. While Björk is set to return to Sweden, Irish media reported D Murphy is fighting against the deportation order and remains in detention at Ben-Gurion Airport. D Murphy was also reportedly detained in 2011 by Israeli authorities. Murphy's son, Dale Ryan, told the Irish Times: 'As far as I can see, her only crime was observing crimes against Palestinian people. D has always had a strong sense of justice, and I know she could not sit at home while she knew her friends in Masafer Yatta and all of Palestine were suffering unnecessarily. 'I am very proud of my mother for sticking up for the basic human rights of her friends and trying to raise awareness of the injustices the Palestinian people are experiencing.'
The Journal
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Irish activist arrested in West Bank faces deportation by Israeli authorities
AN IRISH PRO-PALESTINIAN activist is facing deportation from Israel this week after she was arrested by police in the occupied West Bank on Saturday. D Murphy, a 70-year-old woman originally from Cork, was detained by Israeli forces in the village of Khallet al-Dabaa in the Masafer Yatta region of southern Gaza. A court has since ordered her expulsion from the area. Murphy was arrested shortly after Israeli forces declared the village a 'closed military zone.' According to Palestinian sources, residents and international solidarity activists were forcibly removed from the area. Palestinians were forced to leave their structures by Israeli forces in the village of Khallet al-Dabaa. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a Palestinian-led organisation that supports nonviolent resistance in the West Bank and Gaza, said Murphy had been complying with Israeli orders to leave when she was harassed by Israeli settlers. Israeli police were called to the scene and arrested both Murphy and Swedish activist Susanne Björk, accusing them of entering a restricted military area. Both women appeared separately in court for deportation hearings on Sunday and have remained in custody since. Björk is due to be deported today, while Murphy has said she plans to challenge the court's deportation order later this week. She remains in jail. Speaking in a statement released after her arrest, Murphy said: 'When most governments around the world are ignoring the genocide in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing of the West Bank, ordinary people like me are answering the Palestinians' call to bear witness to these events carried out by the Zionist Israeli entity. It's not about politics – it's about justice and freedom for all people.' Her son, Dale Ryan, said his mother's only offence was 'observing crimes against Palestinian people.' 'D has always had a strong sense of justice, and I know she couldn't sit at home while her friends in Masafer Yatta and across Palestine were suffering,' he said. 'A piece of her heart is in Palestine. She needs to be there, doing what she can.' Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. Advertisement 'It's a disaster' Mariam, a spokesperson for ISM, told The Journal that Israeli authorities appear to be targeting those who stand in solidarity with Palestinian communities. She stated that D Murphy 'was doing nothing' other than showing support and speaking to locals, who she said have been impacted by Israeli forces in recent weeks. 'Those who support Palestinians – like D – are being targeted along with the locals,' she said. 'It's a way to isolate Palestinian communities.' Her comments come just days after the Israeli government approved 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank – a move widely condemned by both international bodies and Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups. Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law, specifically violating Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Mariam said that in May, Israeli forces demolished around 90% of the homes and infrastructure in Khallet al-Dabaa, including water tanks, toilets, animal shelters, solar panels, and power and water supplies. An Israeli excavator demolishes a Palestinian home in Khallet al-Dabaa. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'Three weeks after this devastating erasure, settlers entered the village, forced families out of their caves, brought livestock, and set up an outpost at the edge of the community,' she said. A number of Palestinians live in caves near the region surrounding Khallet al-Dabaa due to the destruction of their homes by the Israeli military, or lack of permits to build. According to ISM, settlers have continued to return daily to harass residents, in what Mariam describes as an effort to forcibly remove those still living on their land. 'It's a disaster,' she said. 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
