**Pro-Palestinian Activist Detained in West Bank Returns Home**
A 70-year-old pro-Palestinian activist from Swansea has returned home after being detained in the occupied West Bank for up to 10 days. Dee Murphy, originally from Cork, Ireland, was volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) as an observer when she was arrested on May 31.
Ms. Murphy said she felt “outrage and heartbreak” during her detention, which she claimed was unjustified. She stated that she had been to the area multiple times over the past 20 years and had always respected Israeli laws and regulations.
“I’m one of those people who gets upset by injustice,” Ms. Murphy told BBC Wales. “What’s happening in Palestine today is one of the biggest injustices in the modern world.”
**Background on the Conflict**
The West Bank, a land between Israel and Jordan, has been occupied by Israel since the Six Day War of 1967. The area is home to an estimated three million Palestinians, who want it as part of any future state. However, Israel continues to build settlements in the area, which are considered illegal under international law.
**Ms. Murphy’s Experience**
Ms. Murphy claimed that she was volunteering in a particularly targeted area by Israeli settlers when she was arrested. She said that she had been staying overnight in a village called Khalet a-Daba when soldiers broke into her room and pointed guns at her. Despite offering to leave the area, Ms. Murphy was told to wait for police to arrive.
“They don’t want internationals in Palestine who will return home and talk to media,” she said. “I felt outrage combined with heartbreak that I had to leave friends when they needed us there.”
**Legal Assistance**
Ms. Murphy claimed that she was denied legal assistance after initially refusing the option of deportation. Her lawyer, Noa Dgoni, told the BBC that the handling of the case was “deeply troubling.” Ms. Murphy eventually decided to leave the area on her own accord.
“It didn’t feel like anything would have been achieved,” she said. “I made the very difficult decision to leave of my own accord.”
**Response from Authorities**
The Irish Embassy Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had previously stated that it was providing consular assistance to Ms. Murphy. The Foreign Office also stated that its staff were ready to support British nationals overseas 24/7.
Read More @ www.bbc.com
