NY congressional candidate Brad Lander detained by Israeli forces during olive harvest

Brad Lander, the Democratic nominee for New York's 10th congressional district, was stopped and held by Israeli military personnel while taking part in an olive‑picking activity with Palestinian farmers in the West Bank, according to NBC News.

The incident occurred on farmland close to the village of Nehalim, near Bethlehem, where Lander and roughly 80 other volunteers, including rabbis and activists, were assisting local growers. Rabbis for Human Rights, an Israeli human‑rights organisation, said the group was told they were entering a closed military zone and were detained for about two hours before being taken to a police station.

RTE reported that after the detention, Lander was released with a warning, while the remaining participants were kept at a police station in an Israeli settlement. Acting Director Anton Goodman of Rabbis for Human Rights indicated that non‑Israeli and non‑Palestinian volunteers were expected to be transferred later to an Israeli military base.

Lander, a former New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate, posted on the social platform X that he had been detained alongside rabbis and volunteers while harvesting olives. He described the activity as a simple agricultural task and reiterated his view that the occupation violates international law.

The volunteers were part of a solidarity effort organised by T'ruah, a North American Jewish human‑rights group, which noted that the participants included both U.S. and Israeli citizens. T'ruah added that the volunteers were helping Palestinian farmers who regularly face threats of violence from Israeli settlers.

Olive cultivation is a significant component of the Palestinian economy, representing roughly eight percent of gross domestic product and providing tens of thousands of jobs, according to the Palestinian Authority's agriculture ministry. The detention of the volunteers has drawn criticism from U.S. officials and human‑rights advocates, who argue that such actions exacerbate tensions in an already volatile region.

Lander, who has been vocal about Israel's conduct in the Gaza conflict, is expected to continue his congressional campaign ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The incident underscores the challenges faced by foreign activists operating in contested areas of the West Bank and highlights ongoing concerns about freedom of movement for civilians and volunteers.

The situation remains fluid, with Israeli authorities yet to clarify the specific legal basis for the detention of the remaining volunteers, and human‑rights groups calling for their prompt release.