U.S. Representative Ro Khanna reports detention by settlers in the West Bank

Democratic Representative Ro Khanna stated that he and his associates were detained by armed Israeli settlers during a visit to the abandoned Palestinian community of Khirbet Zanuta in the West Bank last Wednesday. According to Khanna, the settlers were armed with American-made M4 rifles and blocked the group's vehicle. When Israeli military forces (IDF) arrived at the scene, the congressman reported that they sided with the settlers rather than assisting the U.S. delegation. The soldiers reportedly spoke with the armed individuals and blocked the road after the settlers departed. A New York Times photographer witnessed the incident, and Khanna's associate, Cameron Kasky, corroborated the account, stating that the soldiers acted to support the settlers. Khanna, 49, noted that the situation was resolved only after multiple phone calls allowed them to continue their journey. The report highlights the encounter as a significant moment of powerlessness for a U.S. official in the region.