RAMALLAH: US Democratic Representative Ro Khanna said he and his delegation were detained by armed Israeli settlers during a visit to the occupied West Bank this week, describing the incident as a firsthand look at the challenges facing Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
Speaking to Reuters, the California congressman said his group’s van was surrounded by Israeli settlers carrying US-made M4 rifles while they were visiting a Palestinian village in the southern West Bank that has experienced repeated settler attacks.
According to Khanna, the group was inspecting a village that had been damaged when settlers arrived, blocked the road and prevented them from leaving.
Delegation held for more than an hour
Khanna alleged that the settlers detained his group before calling the Israeli military.
His aide, Cameron Kasky, who accompanied the delegation, said they were held for more than an hour and contacted the US Embassy in Jerusalem seeking assistance.
Kasky said the group was eventually allowed to leave after officers, who appeared to be police, arrived and intervened.
Israeli military responds
The Israeli military confirmed receiving reports that settlers had blocked vehicles near Khirbet Zanuta, a small Palestinian hamlet in the southern West Bank.
In a statement, the military said Israeli troops and police officers responded to the scene, dispersed the settlers and allowed the vehicles to continue their journey.
Israeli police did not immediately comment on the incident, while the US Embassy in Jerusalem also did not issue an immediate response.
Khanna links visit to broader human rights concerns
Khanna said he chose to visit only the West Bank, with an itinerary organised by Palestinians, in order to gain what he described as an unfiltered understanding of conditions on the ground.
He argued that the treatment of Palestinians and the humanitarian situation in Gaza have become a significant moral and political issue, particularly within the Democratic Party.
The congressman also suggested that the experience had strengthened his interest in a possible 2028 US presidential campaign, saying he was “strongly considering” a White House bid.
Debate within US politics
The visit comes as Democratic lawmakers continue to debate US policy toward Israel ahead of the country’s midterm elections.
According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll cited in the report, favourable views of Israel among Democratic voters have declined significantly in recent years.
While Israel continues to receive broad bipartisan support in the United States, a growing number of Democratic lawmakers have called for reviewing or limiting the country’s $3.8 billion annual US military aid package, citing concerns over the treatment of Palestinians.
Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Middle East War. Most countries and the United Nations consider Israeli settlements in the occupied territory to be illegal under international law, citing the Fourth Geneva Convention. Israel disputes this interpretation.
Violence involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians has increased in parts of the West Bank in recent years, particularly following the outbreak of the Gaza war, making the issue an increasingly prominent topic in both international diplomacy and US domestic politics.
