US lawmaker says armed Israeli settlers detained him in West Bank

A U.S. congressman claimed Saturday that he was detained by armed Israeli settlers during a visit to the West Bank, according to a post on social media platform X. Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat representing California's 17th Congressional District, alleged that the settlers, who were armed with American-made rifles, blocked his vehicle and held him and other Americans captive for nearly an hour before Israeli forces intervened. Khanna described the incident as occurring on Wednesday during a visit to the village of Turmus Ayya, located near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. He shared footage and accounts obtained from his team with The New York Times, depicting a group of armed individuals obstructing the road outside the village and using Hebrew and Arabic to address the delegation. According to Khanna, when Israeli military personnel arrived at the scene, they reportedly communicated with the settlers and later blocked the road themselves after the settlers departed. Khanna expressed frustration over the experience, stating that the situation mirrored the daily struggles of Palestinians living under occupation. “Imagine how people feel every day, Palestinians under the occupation, if they could make an American congressperson feel powerless for 90 minutes,” he told the newspaper. Following the incident, Khanna contacted both the U.S. embassy and Israeli police, eventually securing permission to proceed. However, the Israeli military disputed the congressman's account, issuing a statement through AFP that denied involvement in blocking the road. It stated that IDF troops had responded to reports of Israeli civilians unlawfully obstructing the vehicles of foreign nationals and members of the media near the area of Khirbet Zanuta. According to the statement, the soldiers dispersed the civilians and reopened the road, asserting that they did not participate in the initial blockage. The incident has reignited discussions about the role of Israeli settlers in the West Bank, particularly in relation to tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Since the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza in October 2023, the United Nations has documented a notable rise in incidents involving settlers, often linked to attacks on Palestinian property and infrastructure. Meanwhile, some Israeli government officials have publicly advocated for the expansion of Israeli control over parts of the West Bank. In the U.S., political divisions persist regarding Israel's actions in the region. While the country remains a key ally of Israel, certain lawmakers, particularly within the Democratic Party, have voiced concerns over the humanitarian impact of military operations in Gaza and the broader treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories. These criticisms have occasionally led to public disputes between U.S. officials and their counterparts in Tel Aviv. The Israeli military's official response suggests that its forces acted swiftly to resolve the situation, but Khanna's account highlights ongoing challenges faced by visitors to the West Bank. His experience underscores the complex dynamics between local populations, security forces, and international diplomats in the region. As the situation continues to evolve, further investigations into the incident may provide additional clarity on the circumstances surrounding the detainment.