Politics
U.S. congressional nominee among activists detained during West Bank olive harvest
Israeli forces detained dozens of Americans and other activists near the settlement of Beitar Illit as they supported Palestinian families harvesting olives. Two Israeli lawyers described the roundup as the largest mass detention of activists in the West Bank in a decade.
Dozens of Americans, including Democratic congressional nominee Brad Lander, were detained by Israeli forces while helping Palestinian families harvest olives in the occupied West Bank, according to an account published Oct. 21, 2026.
The group, made up mainly of American and Israeli rabbis and other activists, was working to support Palestinian families amid concerns about attacks by Israeli settlers. Israeli security forces declared a closed military zone around an olive grove, escorted the group from the area and detained them near the settlement of Beitar Illit, the account reported.
Two Israeli lawyers characterized the roundup as the largest mass detention of activists in the territory in a decade. The report did not specify the total number detained or say how long they were held.
The detentions come amid years of rising settler violence and Israeli military detentions in the occupied Palestinian territory. The episode drew attention in the United States because Lander, a Democrat running for Congress, was among those detained.