“[Reacting to the detention of Lander and the volunteers:] If this is how they treat Americans, imagine how they treat Palestinians.
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Israel Detains Brad Lander in West Bank
Israeli Forces Detain Brad Lander, New York's Democratic House Nominee, With Dozens of Rabbis and Volunteers at a West Bank Olive Harvest — Lander Says "All We Were Doing Was Harvesting Olives," Chris Van Hollen Says "If This Is How They Treat Americans, Imagine How They Treat Palestinians," and Zohran Mamdani Says "Harvesting Olives Is Not Illegal. The Occupation Is"
October 21, 2026
What happened▸
On Oct. 21, 2026, Israeli soldiers and border police detained Brad Lander — the former New York City comptroller and Democratic nominee in New York's 10th Congressional District — along with roughly 90 rabbis, American volunteers and Israeli activists taking part in a "Protect the Harvest" olive harvest with Palestinian farmers near Nahalin, outside Bethlehem. Organizers said the army declared the grove a closed military zone about two hours into the harvest and detained the group after it agreed to leave.
The Israel Defense Forces said the group was held "due to the security risk posed by conducting an uncoordinated harvest near an Israeli community," and that harvesting in the area requires advance coordination. Lander was released with a warning after about three hours — he said because Israeli officers, who kept calling him "congressman," expected him to be in Congress soon — while dozens of others stayed in custody. Israel's Foreign Ministry called his visit a "calculated political provocation." The State Department said only that it was aware of reports that Americans had been detained and was tracking the situation.
The detention came days after masked settlers beat American photographer Heidi Levine at another West Bank olive harvest. Lander said he would co-sponsor Rep. Joaquin Castro's Stop the Settlements Act once in Congress; Democrats including Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Reps. Jamie Raskin, Greg Casar and Ro Khanna condemned the detentions.
See what your representatives said?
8 Statements
“[On social media:] Now, the IDF targets volunteers for helping Palestinians harvest olives.
“[On social media, while urging passage of legislation barring the import of settlement goods:] I'm glad that Brad has been released — but he should never have been detained in the first place.
“[Mocking the Israeli government's response, writing that he is] waiting for [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog] to pipe in calling Brad Lander a liar who is staging a photo op.
“[On Instagram, while in custody:] I've been detained by the IDF, along with a group of rabbis & volunteers. We were simply harvesting olives in a grove near Nehalim in the West Bank. [In a follow-up post about three hours later:] I've been released from IDF custody with a 'warning.' … Palestinians face far worse consequences every day. … These detentions by the IDF are one more attempt to undermine Palestinians' right to harvest their olive groves, travel on their roads, and live in their homes.
“[To NBC News after his release, responding to Israeli authorities' claim the group was "causing a disturbance of public order":] But I assure you, all we were doing was harvesting olives. … I tried to explain to them I wasn't a member of Congress, just a primary winner. … If they don't want a diplomatic or international incident, they should stop state-sponsored ethnic cleansing.
“[On a press call after his release, on Rep. Joaquin Castro's Stop the Settlements Act:] I will certainly be signing on to Representative Castro's bill when I get to Congress.
“[On social media:] Harvesting olives is not illegal. The occupation is. … I am thankful that Brad has been released. But other New Yorkers remain detained, and they must be released immediately. … The detention of these New Yorkers must end. The occupation must end. The genocide must end.