California Democrat Ro Khanna Detained by Armed Israeli Settlers for 90 Minutes in West Bank
California Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna was detained by armed Israeli settlers for 90 minutes during a congressional visit to the occupied West Bank, an incident he described as a firsthand look at the "inhumane" conditions Palestinians face daily.
Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, was blocked by a group of armed Israeli settlers while traveling through a southern West Bank village on Tuesday [1][5]. The congressman said the settlers were armed with US-made M4 rifles and surrounded his delegation’s van, holding them for about 90 minutes before releasing them [2][5]. Khanna stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) refused to intervene during the detention [3].
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Khanna called the experience an unfiltered look at the human toll of the Israeli occupation, noting that residents in the area face frequent settler attacks [2]. "What is happening in the West Bank is just inhumane. No human being would tolerate it," he said [1]. The lawmaker has since demanded a thorough probe by Israeli authorities into the actions of both the armed settlers and the soldiers who declined to respond [4].
The incident highlights growing international scrutiny of settler violence and military restrictions on Palestinian movement in the occupied territory [1][3].