Israel Detains 11 Foreign Activists During West Bank Olive Harvest

• by Shimanta Das
• October 24, 2026

Israeli forces detained 11 international solidarity activists on Thursday while they were assisting Palestinian farmers with the olive harvest in the village of Al-Buwaib, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian volunteer campaign Fazaa. The activists had been held since Thursday morning, and Israeli authorities did not provide an explanation for their detention, the campaign said in a statement. Among the detainees were nationals of Italy, Germany, the United States, Britain, and Australia, highlighting the international dimension of the incident.nnOne of those detained was Brad Lander, a Democratic congressional candidate and former New York City comptroller, who was released from Israeli military custody “with a warning,” while others initially remained detained. Lander, an ally of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani who won the Democratic primary for a New York House district in June, was helping Palestinian farmers harvest olives on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, when he was detained and released hours later. Dozens of other volunteers, including a group of American rabbis, remained in custody. “The Israeli army arrived in a white van, and the farmers said we must leave,” one activist, who requested anonymity, told Jewish Currents. The Israeli military said in a statement that harvesting in the area requires farmers to submit requests to the authorities before the olive harvest season to coordinate “security of the area and maintain public order.” Lander thanked Defense Minister Israel Katz for responding to the request and for taking decisive action to maintain security and public order.nnOlive harvesting is a vital cultural and economic activity for Palestinians, and the presence of international activists is often seen as a protective measure against settler violence and military restrictions. The detention of foreign activists during the harvest has drawn attention to the challenges faced by Palestinian farmers in accessing their lands. The Fazaa campaign, which organizes volunteer support for Palestinian farmers, condemned the detentions and called for the immediate release of all activists. The incident underscores the tensions surrounding land use and security in the West Bank, particularly during the sensitive olive harvest season.nnThe Israeli military’s coordination requirement for harvesting in the area has been criticized by Palestinian and international groups as a means of restricting access to agricultural land. The detention of Lander and other activists has sparked debate about the treatment of international solidarity volunteers and their role