US Politician Among Volunteers Detained by Israeli Military in West Bank

The Israeli military detained approximately 80 international volunteers, including U.S. and British citizens, who were assisting Palestinians with olive harvesting near Bethlehem in the West Bank. Among those detained was New York Democratic congressional nominee Brad Lander, along with several rabbis and a former Israeli deputy attorney general.

Lander stated that the group was engaged in harvesting olives in a grove near Nahalin when they were apprehended. He criticized the detention, asserting that the occupation is a violation of international law and that olive harvesting is not an illegal activity. The volunteers were reportedly taken to a police station following their detention.