Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democratic congressman from California, stated that he and his group were detained by armed, masked settlers and the Israeli military during a tour of the West Bank on Wednesday. The incident occurred while Khanna was visiting the ruins of the small Palestinian village of Khirbet Zanuta.
Khanna said the group was stopped by individuals armed with what he described as "American-made M4s" who prevented them from leaving. He also claimed that Israeli soldiers arrived and interacted amicably with the settlers while blocking his group's movement forward. According to Khanna, the group was only released after calls were made to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
Khanna stated in a fundraising email that the experience highlighted the challenges faced by Palestinians. "If this can happen to an American member of Congress, imagine what life is like for Palestinians who have no smartphones, no security and no national platform," he said.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement denying they detained any visitors. The IDF reported receiving a call about Israeli civilians blocking foreign nationals and media in the deserted town. According to the military, IDF troops were dispatched, dispersed the civilians, and reopened the road, stating, "The IDF soldiers operating in the area did not take part in blocking the road."
Republican lawmakers have been critical of Khanna's account, with some accusing him of staging a publicity stunt. Rep. Greg Murphy of North Carolina posted on X, "Sounds like another plea for publicity. Anything to get in front of the camera. Why else would you be there? It isn’t your country."
Jim Hanson, Chief Strategist for the Middle East Forum, described Khanna's claims as a "performative outrage stunt." Hanson contended that Khanna's tour bus attempted to enter a restricted civilian zone, was stopped by local security, and that the IDF verified he was not authorized to enter. "You were not 'detained,' you were properly refused entry and your agit prop failed," Hanson wrote. He also accused Khanna of "peddling lies" regarding Israeli military actions and stated that "Israel has offered peace dozens of times, the Palestinians have offered death and destruction in return."
The incident occurs as Democratic politicians in the United States have increasingly voiced criticism of Israel, reflecting a shift in voter sentiment since the war in Gaza began.