Rep. Ro Khanna, a progressive Democrat from California, claims he and other Americans were detained by armed Israeli settlers during a visit to the West Bank. Khanna stated that when the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) arrived, they sided with the settlers and continued the detention.
"Israeli settlers, brandishing American made M4s, detained me & other Americans on my trip to Palestine," Khanna wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "When the IDF arrived, they sided with the settlers & continued our detention. They made a huge mistake. You will be hearing more soon."
An aide to Khanna said the group was held for over an hour and contacted the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem for assistance before being released. The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday while the group was touring a part of the southern West Bank.
The Israeli military told Reuters that they received a report of settlers blocking vehicles near Khirbet Zanuta, a small Palestinian hamlet. "Upon their arrival, the troops dispersed the Israeli civilians and allowed the vehicles to continue on their way," the military stated.
Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley and is considering a 2028 presidential run, has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions. He has co-sponsored a resolution to label Israel's military actions in Gaza as "genocide."
"One of the reasons we lost [the 2024 presidential election] is our blank check to Israel and Netanyahu while they committed genocide in Gaza," Khanna has said previously. He has also stated his belief in Israel's right to exist but opposes the concept of "Greater Israel" and supports a two-state solution.
Khanna's visit to the region comes as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a significant issue in progressive politics, particularly in California, where support for Palestine is seen by some as a key indicator of political alignment.