US Congressman Ro Khanna Detained by Israeli Settlers in West Bank

U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna stated he was detained by armed Israeli settlers, along with other Americans, during a visit to the occupied West Bank. Khanna, a Democratic lawmaker from California, accused the Israeli military of complicity in the incident.

"Israeli settlers, brandishing American made M4s, detained me & other Americans on my trip to Palestine," Khanna posted on X. He added that when the Israeli military arrived, "they sided with the settlers & continued our detention. They made a huge mistake."

Footage shared by Khanna's team shows armed men blocking a road and confronting them. Khanna told The New York Times that he was disheartened to see Israeli soldiers interact amicably with the settlers and block his party's exit. "Imagine how people feel every day, Palestinians under the occupation, if they could make an American congressperson feel powerless for 90 minutes," Khanna said.

“

Israeli settlers, brandishing American made M4s, detained me & other Americans on my trip to Palestine. When the Israeli military arrived at the scene, they sided with the settlers & continued our detention. They made a huge mistake.

The Israeli military stated that troops were dispatched to the scene, dispersed the Israeli civilians, and reopened the road, asserting that soldiers did not participate in the blocking. However, Khanna maintains the IDF sided with the settlers. International law considers Israeli settlements illegal.

This incident occurs amid a reported sharp increase in Israeli settler violence in the West Bank since the October 2023 war in Gaza. The Israeli government faces international criticism for settlement expansion, seen by many as an obstacle to a future Palestinian state.

“

Imagine how people feel every day, Palestinians under the occupation, if they could make an American congressperson feel powerless for 90 minutes.