New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged Israel to free New Yorkers held during the West Bank olive harvest, saying other residents remained in custody after Democratic congressional nominee Brad Lander was released.
Mamdani made the appeal on X on Oct. 21. He said Lander, rabbis and other New Yorkers had joined Palestinian farmers for the harvest before Israeli authorities detained them. Mamdani welcomed Lander’s release and called for those still held to be freed.
Anadolu quoted Palestinian activist Amira Muslim saying Israeli forces detained 45 foreign activists and 25 Israeli activists during olive picking in Husan, west of Bethlehem. Anadolu reported that Lander was detained with activists and Palestinian farmers while they took part in the harvest.
Mamdani wrote, “Harvesting olives is not illegal. The occupation is.” He also accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians and said more than 74,000 people had been killed in recent years.
Anadolu placed the incident in a wider harvest-season context, citing assaults on Palestinian farmers, blocked access to farmland, stolen crops and damaged olive trees in the West Bank.
