Khanna says armed settlers detained his West Bank delegation
Rep. Ro Khanna said Israeli settlers carrying U.S.-made rifles stopped his delegation during a West Bank visit, while Israel’s military said troops let the convoy continue.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
1 min read
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna said Israeli settlers armed with U.S.-made rifles detained his delegation during a visit to Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. The account, reported by Al Jazeera, put a sitting U.S. lawmaker at the center of a confrontation involving armed settlers and a congressional delegation.
Khanna described the episode as harassment, according to Al Jazeera. He said the delegation was touring Palestinian communities when settlers stopped them.
Al Jazeera reported that Khanna said the settlers were carrying rifles made in the United States. The report did not identify the Palestinian communities visited or say how long the delegation was held.
The Israeli military gave a different account of how the incident ended. According to Al Jazeera, the military said soldiers responded after receiving reports that vehicles had been blocked.
The Israeli military said troops intervened and allowed the convoy to continue, Al Jazeera reported. No injuries were reported in the account.
The incident was published by Al Jazeera’s NewsFeed on July 11, 2026. The report did not include further details on whether Israeli authorities planned any investigation or whether Khanna’s office sought action from U.S. officials.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.