New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani launched another attack against Israel on Wednesday after Israeli security forces detained former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and dozens of American activists during an olive-harvesting operation near the chareidi city of Beitar Illit, accusing Israel of committing genocide and demanding the immediate release of those detained.

The confrontation prompted a pointed response from Israel’s consul general in New York, Ofir Akunis, who posted a photograph of piles of garbage on New York City streets and told Mamdani to concentrate on cleaning up his own city before criticizing Israel.

The incident unfolded Wednesday morning on agricultural land near the Palestinian village of Nahalin, adjacent to Beitar Illit, where approximately 80 American volunteers and activists had gathered to accompany Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest.

Among those participating was Lander, a political ally of Mamdani and a Democratic congressional candidate, who joined a group that included rabbis and other American volunteers.

According to the report, the activists arrived early in the morning to assist Palestinian farmers who had reportedly not harvested their land since October 7.

Approximately two hours after the group began working, Israeli security personnel arrived and presented a military order declaring the area a closed military zone for 24 hours.

Israeli security officials explained that the property was located immediately adjacent to Beitar Illit and that entry into the area required advance coordination with the military. They said the group had failed to obtain the necessary authorization.

Officials also noted that the gathering was unusually large for the relatively small parcel of land, with approximately 80 people arriving for the activity.

Security forces subsequently detained members of the group, including Lander, who was later released with a warning.

During the incident, Lander recorded himself aboard a bus alongside other activists and Israeli security personnel. He subsequently posted a message on X criticizing the detention.

“I was detained by the IDF, alongside a group of rabbis and volunteers,” Lander wrote. “We were simply harvesting olives in a grove near Nahalin in the West Bank. The occupation is a crime under international law. Harvesting olives is not a crime under any law I know.”

Mamdani responded by publicly condemning the Israeli authorities, portraying the incident as part of what he described as Israel’s broader treatment of Palestinians.

“Today, Brad Lander, rabbis, and other New Yorkers accompanied Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest. For that, they were detained by the Israeli government,” Mamdani wrote on X.

“Harvesting olives is not illegal. The occupation is,” the mayor continued. “I am grateful that Brad has been released. But other New Yorkers remain detained, and they must be released immediately.”

Mamdani then escalated his criticism, accusing Israel of genocide and citing Palestinian casualty figures from the war in Gaza.

“The same Israeli government detaining them has carried out a resounding genocide against Palestinians, killing more than 74,000 people over the past few years alone,” Mamdani declared. “The detention of these New Yorkers must end. The occupation must end. The genocide must end.”

The mayor’s accusations drew a response from Akunis, Israel’s consul general in New York, who rejected Mamdani’s criticism and turned attention to conditions in the city he governs.

Posting a photograph showing large piles of garbage on New York City streets, Akunis wrote, “First clean up your own city before you talk about Israel. The State of Israel is the home of the Jewish people—including Judea and Samaria.”

According to later reporting Wednesday evening, most of the detained activists were released, with four still facing proceedings. Israeli authorities maintained that the group had entered an area requiring advance coordination, although a Civil Administration map raised questions about whether that requirement applied to the specific location where the harvesting took place.

{Matzav.com}