US Congressman Ro Khanna's high-profile visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank took a dramatic turn last Wednesday when he and his convoy were detained by armed Israeli settlers and soldiers in the South Hebron hills, near the village of Zanuta. The California Democrat's experience has sparked outrage, with allegations that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) not only failed to protect him but may have even colluded with the settlers who held him captive for approximately 20 minutes.
Khanna's account is corroborated by video evidence he posted on social media, showing settlers brandishing M4 rifles and mocking his group as they were detained. He claims that when four IDF soldiers arrived, they sided with the settlers, further blocking and detaining the convoy - a move that starkly contradicts the IDF's assertion that its soldiers 'quickly dispersed' the civilians and reopened the road.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from Khanna, who appeared on NBC News' Meet the Press on Sunday. He called for an investigation into both the settlers involved and the four IDF officers, stating, 'How dare they mistreat people with an American passport that way?' His concerns are further underscored by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's earlier description of the armed settlers as 'juvenile delinquents', which Khanna argues is a misrepresentation. He also referenced Yinon Levi, a settler previously linked to the death of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen.
Israeli officials have dismissed Khanna's account, accusing him of orchestrating a 'political stunt' to distract from past controversies and promote his potential 2028 White House bid. The US Ambassador to Israel, Michael Leiter, echoed these sentiments, claiming that the Congressman 'didn’t come to understand the situation – he came looking for a headline'.
The incident highlights the volatile situation in the West Bank, where all Israeli settlements, including those in East Jerusalem, are considered illegal under international law. The region has seen an increase in settler violence, which Amnesty International describes as part of a government-backed 'ethnic cleansing campaign' aimed at displacing Palestinians.