Israeli occupation forces have detained Luisa Morgantini, the former Vice-President of the European Parliament and prominent Palestinian solidarity advocate, while she was in Masafer Yatta, located south of Hebron, to show her support for local Palestinian residents enduring attacks from Israeli settlers. Morgantini, an outspoken critic of Israel’s policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, had been in the area to demonstrate solidarity with the community, which has faced repeated harassment and violent incursions by settlers in recent months.

The arrest occurred during a visit aimed at highlighting the ongoing violations of Palestinian rights in the area, where illegal Israeli settlers have been emboldened by the Israeli government's policies. These settlers frequently attack Palestinian homes, fields, and infrastructure, and the community has long faced the threat of forced displacement as part of Israel’s efforts to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Morgantini’s arrest has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights groups and international organisations, many of whom have expressed concern about Israel's continued repression of activists and critics, including those advocating for Palestinian rights. As a former European parliamentarian, Morgantini has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian self-determination and has participated in numerous initiatives to raise awareness about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

Her detention adds to a growing list of incidents where international activists and solidarity groups have faced harassment, arrest, and deportation by Israeli forces, as part of a broader campaign to silence criticism of Israel’s occupation and settlement expansion.