The son of a 70-year-old Irish woman currently in Israeli detention has pleaded for her release amid concerns over his mother’s health.
Deirdre Murphy, who has eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, was detained in the recently demolished West Bank village of Khalet al-Daba’a. According to the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), she has not been provided legal counsel since Monday.
Ms Murphy, who is originally from Cork and now based in Swansea, was arrested alongside 48-year-old Swedish national Susanne Björk, who claimed to The Independent that the pair had to “fight to even be allowed to go to the toilet” during their detention.
“Who doesn’t allow a 70-year-old woman to go to the toilet? It’s certainly not something a democratic country would be doing,” said UK resident Ms Björk, who has already been deported from Israel. Israeli police did not address this claim when approached by The Independent.
Ms Björk said allegations by Israeli police that they had failed to show their IDs and were in a prohibited area were false.
International and local activists have been stationed in Khalet al-Daba’a since its demolition on 5 May in an attempt to prevent nearby Israeli settlers from damaging the remaining buildings.
After refusing to leave Israel voluntarily, Ms Murphy and Ms Björk were arrested and told they would be deported. Ms Murphy decided to challenge the deportation order.
Dale Ryan, Ms Murphy’s son, has called on Israeli authorities to “treat her with dignity and respect” while she is in detention – and pleaded with authorities to “send her home quickly”.
“Israel is meant to be a civilised country, so you think [the detainees] basic rights would have been met. But maybe that trust is a little bit misguided,” said Mr Ryan, 46, who added that he is “really proud” of his mother.
He explained that his mother has bronchiectasis, a long-term condition that can cause inflammation of the airways. “Stress can make symptoms worse as well,” Mr Ryan explained. “So I am a little bit concerned. I just hope my mother’s in good health, but also my mother is quite a resilient person… I know she will gain strength from this.”
Along with other activists, Ms Björk and Ms Murphy were filming settlers they claim were roaming the demolished landscape of Khalet al-Daba’a, grazing their sheep and damaging the homes that remain standing.
The two women were complying with an order to leave the land when they were apprehended by a settler in military uniform who demanded to see their passports, Ms Björk said.
After police were called, the pair were detained, as authorities accused them of being in a restricted area and of failing to show their IDs.
“These are completely false accusations,” Ms Björk said. “As soon as they told us we were not allowed in the area, we tried to leave. The soldiers had at first our passports, and then the police took our passports. We complied with all instructions.”
