Get you up to speed: Congressman Ro Khanna says he was detained by Israeli settlers in the West Bank
Congressman Ro Khanna was detained by Israeli settlers for over an hour during a visit to the West Bank. The Israel Defense Forces spoke with the settlers and moved a vehicle to block the road.
Israeli soldiers involved in incidents against Palestinians have faced minimal accountability, with less than 1% of 2,427 complaints resulting in indictments from 2016 to 2024, according to the rights group Yesh Din. Additionally, over 700,000 Israelis are currently residing in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories that remain a focal point of the ongoing conflict.
Congressman Ro Khanna was detained by Israeli settlers during his visit to the West Bank, with a spokesperson confirming the incident and stating that members of the Israel Defense Forces were involved. The United Nations has previously reported significant civilian casualties in the region, while several nations have condemned Israel’s actions, leading to recent sanctions against senior Israeli officials accused of inciting violence.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how the Israeli Defence Forces will respond to the incident involving Congressman Ro Khanna and the settlers.
Congressman Ro Khanna claims he was detained by Israeli settlers in West Bank
Congressman Ro Khanna said he was detained by Israeli settlers for over an hour while visiting the West Bank. Khanna also said members of the Israel Defense Forces spoke with the settlers and moved a car to block the road.
Khanna’s experience was first reported by The New York Times. A spokesperson for the congressman confirmed the details of the Times’ report to WTX US News. The Times said a photojournalist from the publication also witnessed the interaction.
WTX US News has reached out to the IDF for comment.
Staff of Rep. Ro Khanna 
U.S. politicians from both sides of the aisle have visited the West Bank since the war in Gaza was sparked by a massive attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. House Speaker Mike Johnson visited the territory in September 2025 and dined with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Democrats Chris van Hollen and Jeff Merkley, of Maryland and Oregon, respectively, toured the region in August 2025.
Several nations that have supported Israel during the war in Gaza criticized the country after IDF troops fired what they called “warning shots” near a group of diplomats visiting the territory in May 2025. The delegation included representatives from the European Union, Japan and Russia. The IDF said the shots were fired after the group wandered off an approved route and entered a restricted area.
The United Nations said in May that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem since the war began. WTX US News has met Palestinian residents and Israeli activists in the West Bank who say violent attacks by Israeli settlers have increased significantly since the war in Gaza began, including attacks that have driven people from their land. Israel has also continued to expand its settlements in the territory.
Staff of Rep. Ro Khanna 
Israeli soldiers accused of harming Palestinians in the West Bank are rarely penalized and were indicted in fewer than 1% of cases based on 2,427 complaints alleging wrongdoing between 2016 and 2024, according to Israeli rights group Yesh Din.
More than 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 from Jordan and sought by the Palestinians for a future state. About 15% of the settlers are Americans.
The United Nations call Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, and Israel has been criticized for the actions of settlers in the territory. Five long-time U.S. allies jointly imposed sanctions on two senior Israeli officials who they accused of “inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the sanctions and called for their reversal.