U.S. Congressmember Ro Khanna said Israeli settlers detained him during a visit to Palestine after they stopped his group in the West Bank. The California Democrat said authorities released him only after people called the American Embassy in Jerusalem.
Khanna said in a post on X that Israeli settlers carrying American-made M4 rifles detained him and other Americans during the trip. He added that when Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers arrived, they supported the settlers and continued blocking their movement.
The IDF denied detaining any visitors involved in the incident. The military said its soldiers responded after receiving a report about Israeli citizens blocking foreign nationals and journalists in Khirbet Zanuta.
Dispute Over IDF Response
A representative for Khanna said the incident happened on Wednesday during a three-day tour of the West Bank. The group was visiting a Palestinian village that had been abandoned after attacks by settlers when masked men with guns stopped them.
Khanna’s office said the incident happened in the town of Khirbet Zanuta. A photographer from The New York Times witnessed the confrontation, according to the newspaper.
Khanna said he was disappointed when Israeli soldiers arrived and spoke in a friendly way with the people who stopped his group. He said the group was not allowed to leave until the U.S. Embassy and Israeli police were contacted.
Rising Tensions Over Israel Policy
“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,” Khanna said in a fundraising email after sharing details of the incident.
Speaking to Reuters, Khanna said he saw armed settlers laughing about detaining the group. He also criticized the actions of the young IDF soldiers, saying they showed little respect despite Americans being involved.
In a statement, the IDF said its troops quickly separated the Israeli civilians and reopened the blocked road. The military said its soldiers did not take part in blocking the road.
The incident comes as some Democratic politicians in the United States have increased criticism of Israel. A recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 58% of Democrats believed the U.S. was “too supportive” of Israel.
On the same day, the Israeli military said it detained four suspects accused of attacking foreign journalists traveling to Sinjil in the West Bank. CNN reported that its journalists came under attack while covering the anniversary of Israeli settlers beating a Palestinian-American man to death.
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