Rep. Ro Khanna says armed Israeli settlers detained him in West Bank
California Representative Ro Khanna says he was held for over an hour by armed settlers in the West Bank, an incident he claims underscores the need for a new U.S. foreign policy direction.
Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democratic congressman from California, alleged he was detained by armed Israeli settlers during a visit to the West Bank, describing the incident as a stark illustration of the region’s escalating tensions. The encounter, which Khanna framed as a pivotal moment in his consideration of a 2028 presidential bid, unfolded near the Palestinian village of Khirbet Zanuta, where his group’s van was surrounded by settlers wielding U.S.-made M4 rifles, according to accounts from Khanna and his aide, Cameron Kasky.
Khanna recounted that the settlers blocked the road and detained the group for over an hour, during which they appealed to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem for assistance. He claimed the Israeli military, or IDF, arrived but sided with the settlers rather than the Americans. “They call the IDF and the IDF is on their side, not on the side of the Americans,” Khanna said in a statement, citing a Reuters interview. Kasky, who accompanied Khanna, confirmed the detention and noted that Israeli police eventually intervened to release the group.
The Israeli military disputed Khanna’s account, stating that troops and officers responded to reports of settlers blocking vehicles near Khirbet Zanuta. A spokesperson for the IDF said forces “dispersed the Israeli civilians and allowed the vehicles to continue on their way.” The military emphasized that its soldiers did not participate in blocking the road, though it acknowledged the presence of settlers. The incident occurred in an area where Palestinian residents have faced repeated settler attacks, including raids that forced displacement following the 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Khanna’s visit to the West Bank, which he described as an “unfiltered look at the human toll of Israeli occupation,” coincided with growing scrutiny of U.S.-Israel relations. The congressman criticized the Democratic Party’s “cluelessness” about the moral dimensions of the conflict, accusing it of failing to address what he called the “apartheid in the West Bank” and the “genocide in Gaza.” He also highlighted the broader political implications, stating that his experience had solidified his resolve to run for president. “I’m more resolved to consider it after this trip,” he said, framing his potential campaign as a call for a “new moral direction” in U.S. Foreign policy.
The incident has intensified debates over the role of U.S. Military aid to Israel, which includes funding for weapons like M4 rifles. Khanna and other Democrats have increasingly questioned the alliance, with Israel’s favorability among the party dropping to 22% in May 2026, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. Meanwhile, Israel’s government has rejected allegations of apartheid or genocide, asserting that the West Bank is disputed territory with a Jewish historical presence. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and Israeli police did not immediately comment on the incident.
Khanna’s visit followed a trip by former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who warned that U.S. Support for Israel risks eroding global alliances. Emanuel criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for leading his country into a “dead end” and turning it into a “pariah.” The controversy underscores the deepening rifts within the Democratic Party over Israel policy, as left-wing challengers target incumbents for their stances on the conflict. Khanna’s account, amplified by his political prominence, adds another layer to the ongoing discourse about accountability, human rights, and the future of U.S. Engagement in the region. As the 2028 presidential race looms, the episode may further crystallize the ideological divides within American politics over the Israel-Palestine conflict.
