Congressman says he was detained by Israeli settlers in West Bank

Congressman Ro Khanna said he was detained by Israeli settlers for more than an hour while visiting the occupied West Bank, an incident that also involved the presence of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

According to Khanna and confirmed by his spokesperson to CBS News, members of the IDF engaged with the settlers and subsequently moved a vehicle to obstruct the road during the encounter. The New York Times first reported the congressman's experience, with one of its photojournalists reportedly witnessing the event.

Khanna's account adds to a growing number of incidents involving U.S. politicians visiting the West Bank. The region has seen increased settler violence since the war in Gaza began, according to Palestinian residents and Israeli activists. The United Nations has deemed Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal. The IDF has stated that warning shots were fired near a diplomatic delegation in May 2025 after the group deviated from an approved route and entered a restricted area.

International criticism of Israel's actions in the West Bank has persisted, with several U.S. allies imposing sanctions on Israeli officials accused of inciting violence against Palestinians. The U.S. State Department has condemned these sanctions. The report also notes that Israeli soldiers accused of harming Palestinians are rarely penalized, with indictments in fewer than 1% of cases involving complaints of wrongdoing between 2016 and 2024.