ISRAEL is deporting international activists for seeking to expose the forced displacement of Palestinian communities in the West Bank, campaigners have warned.

Swedish citizen Susanne Bjork, 48, and 70-year-old Irish citizen D Murphy, both based in Britain, were arrested by Israeli authorities on Saturday in Khalet al-Daba’a, a village in the Masafer Yatta area whose residents are under imminent threat of expulsion.

Ms Bjork was deported this morning, while Ms Murphy is contesting her deportation and faces imprisonment.

According to the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), the Israeli military ordered the two women to leave the village.

As they complied, they were stopped and harassed by Israeli settlers in military uniform — reservists called up since the start of the onslaught on Gaza in October 2023.

Israeli police later arrested Ms Bjork and Ms Murphy, accusing them of being in a military zone.

The Irishwoman said: “When most governments all 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 come and be a witness to these events being 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: “As far as I can see, her only crime was observing crimes against Palestinian people.”

Last year, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir set up a task force to expel international activists from the West Bank, claiming it was a response to US sanctions targeting violent settlers.

Activists have faced arrest and deportation for reporting settler violence to their governments and communities.

The 120 residents of Khalet al-Daba’a have faced escalating violence.

Since February, Israeli forces have demolished homes, tents, and vital infrastructure, including electricity, water and internet systems.

On May 5, 90 per cent of the village’s remaining structures were destroyed.

Settlers have since arrived daily to harass families who continue to resist eviction.

In May, the Israeli government announced plans to establish 22 new settlements in the West Bank — the largest such scheme in decades — defying an International Court of Justice ruling that the occupation and settlements are illegal.

The ISM said: “We ask the international community to act now, to stop the forced displacement, to bring justice for the Palestinians and to stop deporting activists struggling alongside families.”