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"They surrounded us with US rifles": Israeli settlers detain US congressman Ro Khanna in West Bank
🇯🇴 Jordan /Elections & Politics

"They surrounded us with US rifles": Israeli settlers detain US congressman Ro Khanna in West Bank

From Al Bawaba · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • U.S. Representative Ro Khanna reported being detained for over an hour by armed Israeli settlers during a visit to the occupied West Bank.
  • Khanna stated that residents with U.S.-made M4 rifles surrounded his delegation's vehicle, and Israeli security forces initially sided with the settlers.
  • The incident occurred while Khanna was documenting damage in a Palestinian town and amid rising disputes within the Democratic Party over U.S. support for Israel.

U.S. Representative Ro Khanna described a "jarring reflection" of Palestinian realities after he and his delegation were detained for over an hour by armed Israeli settlers during a visit to the occupied West Bank. Khanna, a California Democrat, said residents armed with U.S.-made M4 rifles surrounded their vehicle in the southern West Bank, preventing them from leaving.

The settlers phoned the Israeli army. The security forces were at first with the settlers, not with the American delegation.

— Ro KhannaDescribing the initial response of Israeli security forces during the detention.

The confrontation happened as the delegation was documenting damage in a Palestinian town where homes and a school had reportedly been destroyed. Khanna told Reuters that the settlers contacted the Israeli army, and security forces initially sided with the settlers, not the American delegation. Cameron Kasky, one of Khanna’s staffers, said the group was detained at gunpoint and only able to leave after Israeli police intervened.

The settlers phoned the Israeli army.

— Ro KhannaExplaining how the Israeli army became involved in the incident.

The Israeli military stated its personnel responded to reports of Israeli civilians blocking vehicles near Khirbet Zanuta, a Palestinian community. The military claimed troops dispersed those blocking the road and allowed vehicles to proceed. The incident occurs as Khanna considers a potential 2028 U.S. presidential candidacy and amid growing debate within the Democratic Party regarding U.S. backing for Israel.

The security forces were at first with the settlers, not with the American delegation.

— Ro KhannaDetailing the perceived bias of Israeli security forces during the confrontation.

During his tour, Khanna focused on Palestinian communities to gain an unfiltered understanding of the occupied West Bank. He criticized Israeli tactics in Gaza and the West Bank, calling the humanitarian situation a defining moral problem for U.S. policymakers. Israel has consistently denied accusations of genocide and apartheid, asserting its military operations are necessary for national defense and questioning foreign criticism of its settlement policies.

They made a huge mistake.

— Ro KhannaCommenting on the actions of those who detained him and his delegation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Bawaba in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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