California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna has reported an incident during his visit to the West Bank where he and his team were detained by Israeli settlers wielding American-made weapons.
This occurred on Wednesday near the Palestinian village of Khirbet Zanuta, according to Khanna’s office. They stated that the settlers were armed with M4 machine guns produced in the U.S.
Upon the arrival of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, Khanna alleged that they supported the settlers rather than assisting his group. Tensions finally eased when Israeli police intervened, removing the settlers and their vehicles that obstructed the Congress group’s path, as mentioned by the Democratic Party’s office.
The New York Times first divulged details of the alleged encounter on Saturday.
A spokesperson for Khanna confirmed the key points reported by the Times but refrained from further comments when speaking to Fox News Digital. Khanna also shared his account of the incident with Reuters.
“I might be the first American politician to face detention by both the Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli settlers,” Khanna remarked in a video interview with Reuters.
He described the situation: “We were in a village destroyed by Israeli settlers. Then these armed individuals approach us, block the roads, and call in the IDF, who align themselves with the settlers instead of us.” This stance, he noted, seemed pretty apparent.
Khanna, who has previously criticized Israel and is considered a potential contender in the 2028 Democratic presidential race, remarked that this experience has influenced his thoughts regarding a presidential bid.
He mentioned to Reuters, “I’m seriously considering running for the presidency. After this trip, I feel an increased urgency. Our party requires a refreshed moral compass—one that honors the dignity and rights of people globally.”
He added in a statement to the Times, “If people understood the full scope of the situation here, no American would support it.”
The IDF responded to Reuters, asserting that military and police forces acted after reports indicated that settlers were obstructing vehicles in the vicinity of Khirbet Zanuta. They noted that once on the scene, the military dispersed the settlers to restore access for vehicles.
