Ro Khanna Says Armed Israeli Settlers Detained Him During West Bank Visit

Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, said he and members of his delegation were detained by armed Israeli settlers while visiting villages in the occupied West Bank. According to Khanna, settlers carrying U.S.-made M4-style rifles blocked the group’s vehicle and prevented them from leaving for more than an hour before Israeli police intervened.

The Israeli military disputes Khanna’s characterization that it detained the group. The Israel Defense Forces said soldiers responded after civilians blocked the road, dispersed those involved, and enabled the delegation to continue its visit.

Khanna was visiting Palestinian communities in the southern West Bank to examine the effects of settler violence and conditions in the territory. He said the experience reinforced concerns he has previously expressed about Israeli settlement policy and the humanitarian situation facing Palestinians.

The West Bank has experienced a rise in violence involving Israeli settlers, Palestinian residents, and Israeli security forces since the outbreak of the Gaza war. Most countries and the United Nations consider Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank to be illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes.

Khanna criticized the actions of both the settlers and the Israeli security response, arguing that the incident illustrated broader problems in the territory. Israeli officials have maintained that security forces acted appropriately by restoring access to the road and denying that they detained the American delegation.

The episode has drawn attention in Washington as lawmakers continue debating U.S. military aid to Israel and broader American policy in the region.

The incident comes at a time when U.S. policy toward Israel and the Palestinian territories remains a major issue in Congress. Encounters involving American lawmakers overseas often receive heightened scrutiny because they can influence future debate over military assistance, diplomacy, and U.S. engagement in the Middle East.