Democratic Congressional Candidate Brad Lander Detained by IDF During Olive Harvest

Brad Lander, a former New York City Comptroller and Democratic candidate for Congress, was detained by the Israeli military on Wednesday while participating in an olive harvest with Palestinian farmers near Nahalin, in the Bethlehem region. Approximately 80 American activists and volunteers were also reportedly arrested. Lander, who was released with a warning, condemned the Israeli forces' intervention, stating that "olive picking is not a crime." Lander, who has been nominated by the Democratic Party to run for a seat in the House of Representatives in New York's 10th district, was held along with dozens of activists. Reports on the exact number of detainees vary, with some sources citing around 100 people and others around 80.

According to the Israeli organization Rabbins for Human Rights, the volunteers had been harvesting olives for about two hours when IDF forces and police intervened. Authorities informed them that the area had been declared a closed military zone before taking the individuals for identity verification and questioning. The organization claims the participants could not have anticipated this decision and were prepared to leave. However, another source indicated that the activity lacked sufficient prior coordination.

At the time of initial reports, Israeli authorities had not yet provided a detailed justification for the detentions. In a video posted on social media platform X from the bus where he was held, Brad Lander disputed the intervention's validity. "We were simply picking olives in an olive grove near Nahalin, in Judea and Samaria. The occupation is a crime under international law. Olive harvesting is not a crime under any law I know of," he stated. The former New York City Comptroller later announced his release with a warning, suggesting his prominence might have influenced the decision while calling for the release of others detained.

Several dozen activists reportedly remained in custody as of later reports. Lander, who is close to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is known for his criticism of Israeli policy, including its conduct in the war against Hamas in Gaza. His presence in Judea and Samaria was part of an initiative presented as a gesture of solidarity with Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest, a period often marked by tensions over access to agricultural land. The incident occurs amid heightened tensions in Judea and Samaria, where Palestinian farmers and international activists have reported alleged violence and obstructions to the harvest.