Ro Khanna says armed settlers detained his group in West Bank
The California Democrat accused Israeli forces of siding with settlers after an incident during a visit near a Palestinian hamlet.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
US Representative Ro Khanna said armed Israeli settlers detained him and others during a visit to the occupied West Bank, an account that adds to growing scrutiny in Washington over settler violence and US military support for Israel. The California Democrat said on X that Israeli soldiers later arrived and backed the settlers rather than ending the detention.
Khanna wrote Saturday that he would provide more details about the incident. In comments to Reuters, he said the group had been stopped a day earlier by armed settlers who blocked a road and then contacted the Israeli military.
According to Reuters, Khanna described the settlers as “hoodlums” carrying machine guns and said they had US-made assault rifles. He said the Israeli military sided with them after arriving at the scene.
Cameron Kasky, an aide to Khanna who was with the group, said they were held for more than an hour and sought help from the US embassy in Jerusalem, according to Al Jazeera. Kasky said the group was released after officers who appeared to be police intervened.
Israeli military gives its account
The Israeli military said troops and police responded after a report that settlers were blocking vehicles near Khirbet Zanuta, Al Jazeera reported. The outlet described Khirbet Zanuta as a small Palestinian hamlet whose residents were forcibly displaced by violent settler raids at the start of Israel’s 2023 war in Gaza.
Khanna also discussed the encounter in an interview with DRM News. He said the visit marked the first time he had been “acutely aware” of being brown, and described young settlers and Israeli soldiers as arrogant during the encounter.
Khanna, who Al Jazeera reported is weighing a 2028 presidential run, said Israel had made a serious error. His comments came as US lawmakers are debating military assistance to Israel and broader defense cooperation between the two countries.
Debate over US aid
Al Jazeera reported that settler violence in the occupied West Bank has increased since the Gaza war began nearly three years ago. Rights groups say settlers have gained confidence from the Israeli government, and Amnesty International has accused Israel of carrying out a state-backed campaign of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.
Several Western countries sanctioned networks linked to settler violence last month, according to Al Jazeera. The sanctions followed mounting international criticism of attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.
In Congress, Khanna and Republican Representative Thomas Massie have been pressing to end US military aid to Israel, Al Jazeera reported. Khanna said last week that the House Rules Committee canceled a vote on a Massie bill he co-sponsored that would have called for ending US funding for Israel’s military.
Lawmakers are also reviewing military spending legislation that Al Jazeera said would deepen US defense ties with Israel if approved. The debate has drawn objections from members of both parties as Israel faces increased criticism in Washington.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.