US Congressman Ro Khanna, a senior Democrat from California, has spoken out about an unsettling incident during his recent visit to the occupied West Bank: being detained by armed Israeli settlers carrying US-made rifles. The congressman's account serves as a stark reminder of the daily challenges faced by Palestinians under occupation – a situation that continues to draw intense scrutiny from the international community.
According to Khanna, a group of settlers surrounded his delegation's vehicle in a southern West Bank area plagued by settler violence, blocking the road and contacting the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) for assistance. The congressman expressed dismay at what he perceived as a lack of respect from both the settlers and IDF soldiers – troops whose operations are partially funded by US military aid.
The 90-minute detention left Khanna feeling powerless, drawing a poignant comparison between his temporary experience and the ongoing reality faced by Palestinians. "Imagine how people feel every day," he stated, "if they could make an American congressperson feel powerless for 90 minutes." He also criticised what he termed the "arrogance of power" and a "toxic culture of oppression", which he believes has arisen from a lack of accountability.
The US embassy and Israeli police were eventually contacted, leading to the group's release. The Israeli military confirmed that troops and police responded to reports of settlers obstructing vehicles near Khirbet Zanuta – a Palestinian hamlet whose residents were displaced following settler raids after the Hamas attacks in October 2023. Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, house over 700,000 Israelis and are considered illegal under international law by the United Nations.
This incident occurs amidst heightened tensions in the region. A June report from a UN independent international commission of inquiry concluded that Israeli authorities and security forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian children, leading to alleged genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Congressman Khanna has been a vocal critic within the US Congress regarding the conflict in Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank – often challenging his own party's stance.