Jerusalem, Palestine – US Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna was briefly detained by armed Israeli settlers during a field visit to the West Bank.
He said the incident gave him a firsthand look at the consequences of the occupation and the violence Palestinians face.
Khanna explained that the Israeli army later intervened to disperse the settlers and allow his group to continue on their way.
The Israeli army confirmed the incident and its intervention after receiving a report of a road closure.
Details of the detention of the American delegation
Representative Khanna of California, who is considering a run for the 2028 US presidential election,
said that settlers armed with US-made M-4 rifles surrounded his vehicle
during a visit to a Palestinian village in the southern West Bank.
He added that the group was held for over an hour before Israeli forces intervened to end the situation.
The Israeli military stated that its forces, in cooperation with the police,
arrived at the scene after receiving a report that settlers had blocked the road to vehicles near Khirbet Zanuta.
They then dispersed the settlers and allowed vehicles to pass.
Neither the Israeli police nor the US Embassy in Jerusalem commented on the incident.
The West Bank is at the heart of the American political debate
The visit comes at a time of escalating debate within the Democratic Party regarding US policy toward Israel and the Palestinians.
Khanna described the issues concerning Palestine and the Gaza Strip as a “moral test” for the party’s leadership.
He also noted that he deliberately limited his visit to the West Bank
and had it organized by Palestinians in order to gain firsthand insight into the situation on the ground.
The US congressman affirmed that what he witnessed during the visit
reinforced his conviction of the necessity to defend Palestinian rights.
He further stated that ignoring violations undermines the moral standing of any political leader.
Growing division over US support for Israel
Khanna’s remarks come amid a marked decline in support for Israel among the Democratic base, according to recent polls.
This coincides with growing calls within the party to reconsider US military aid to Israel,
which amounts to approximately $3.8 billion annually.
In response, Israel rejects accusations of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip
or imposing an apartheid regime in the West Bank. It maintains that the West Bank is disputed territory.
Palestinians, the United Nations, and most of the international community
consider the Israeli settlements there illegal under international law.
