New York City public pension funds increased their investment in Elbit Systems, Israel's largest weapons supplier, by 268% under Comptroller Brad Lander's management between June 2024 and June 2025.

The holdings grew from approximately $280,000 to over $1 million in the arms manufacturer in the middle of Israel's livestreamed genocide of the Palestinians. Lander defends the investments as strictly adhering to a "fiduciary lens" required by law to secure maximum returns for retirees, stating he does not bring politics to pension management.

Brad Lander has consistently stated that he opposes the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, arguing that its tenets are incompatible with Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

Brad Lander left the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in October 2023 because the organization promoted a pro-Palestinian rally in Times Square on October 8. Lander described the rally as "heinous" and "vile" for the way it spoke about Hamas, stating he could no longer remain a member after 30 years.