NYC mayor accuses Israel of genocide after olive harvest detention

New York City Council member Zohran Mamdani launched a sharp attack on Israel Wednesday following the detention of Brad Lander, former New York City Comptroller, and other American activists during an olive harvest with Palestinian farmers near the chareidi city of Beitar Illit.

Mamdani welcomed Lander's release but demanded the immediate release of the remaining detainees and accused Israel of committing "genocide" against Palestinians. "Today, Brad Lander, rabbis, and other New Yorkers accompanied Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest. For this, they were detained by the Israeli government," Mamdani wrote on X.

"Harvesting olives is not illegal. The occupation is," the council member added. "I am grateful that Brad has been released. But other New Yorkers remain detained, and they must be released immediately."

Mamdani with Satmar activists (Photo: Lantchevsky Brothers)

Mamdani continued with particularly harsh language: "The same Israeli government detaining them has committed a resounding genocide against Palestinians, killing more than 74,000 people in just the past few years alone. The detention of these New Yorkers must end. The occupation must end. The genocide must end."

The incident that prompted Mamdani's response occurred Wednesday morning on land near the village of Nahalin. IDF forces detained approximately 80 American volunteers and activists who were accompanying Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in the area. Among those detained was Lander, Mamdani's political ally and the Democratic Party candidate for Congress.

The activists arrived at the site in the early morning hours to accompany Palestinians who have not harvested their land since October 7. After about two hours of work, security forces arrived and presented an order declaring the area a closed military zone for 24 hours.

According to security sources, the land in question is adjacent to the city of Beitar Illit and requires advance coordination before entry, coordination that was not carried out in this case. Officials also noted that the area is relatively small, yet an unusually large group of approximately 80 people arrived.

Lander was later released with a warning. During the incident, he filmed himself from inside a bus alongside the other activists and security forces, posting on X: "I have been detained by the IDF, along with a group of rabbis and volunteers. We were simply harvesting olives in an orchard near Nahalin in the West Bank. Occupation is a crime under international law. Harvesting olives is not a crime under any law I know."

Israeli Consul in New York Ofir Akunis responded to Mamdani with a photograph of garbage piles in New York: "First clean your own city before you talk about Israel. The State of Israel is the home of the Jewish people, including Judea and Samaria."