Israel Detains 80 Foreign and Israeli Activists, Including US Congressional Candidate, During Olive Harvest

The Israeli military detained 80 foreign activists and members of the organization "Rabbis for Human Rights" on Wednesday, including Democratic Congressional candidate Brad Lander. The group was accompanying Palestinians in harvesting olives near the village of Nahalin in the occupied West Bank's Bethlehem Governorate.

According to the organization, Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene, declaring it a "closed military zone." Despite the activists agreeing to leave immediately, soldiers detained them, photographed their identification and passports, and then transported them to a police station in the settlement of Beitar Illit. They were accused of violating the "closed military zone order," though the area where the activists were present did not require prior coordination for entry.

Lander was released after over an hour. He stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the Israeli military detained him and a group of rabbis and volunteers while they were harvesting olives. Lander asserted that "occupation is a crime under international law" and that "olive harvesting is not a crime under any law I know." He added in a social media video that "settler security personnel" had summoned the Israeli military.

One detained activist recounted that after over an hour of peaceful olive picking, a small drone flew overhead, and individuals from Beitar Illit were observed watching them. The soldiers initially told the group they had to leave but then prevented them from doing so, escorting them to their vehicles before announcing their arrest. Dozens of foreign activists were placed in a large police vehicle, while the Israeli activists were put on the bus that brought them. An Israeli journalist present at the scene was also detained and moved elsewhere.