US Congressman Ro Khanna Detained by Settlers in West Bank

US Congressman Ro Khanna stated that armed Israeli settlers detained him on July 10, 2026, during a visit to the occupied West Bank. Khanna, a Democrat representing California, described the incident as providing a "first-hand view of the realities faced by Palestinians living under occupation." He reported that the settlers were armed with US-made weapons and that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) refused to intervene during the detention.

Khanna recounted the experience in an interview with Reuters on Thursday, July 11, 2026, from a Palestinian village. He explained that the detention occurred while his delegation was visiting an area in the southern West Bank that has frequently been the site of attacks by Israeli settlers. The congressman's account underscores concerns about settler violence and the role of Israeli security forces in the region.

The incident occurred as Khanna was on a delegation visit to the West Bank, a territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six-Day War. International law considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal. Khanna's statement adds a prominent US political voice to the ongoing discussions and criticisms surrounding the occupation and settler activities.