Rep. Ro Khanna reports being detained by Israeli settlers in West Bank

Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, reported being detained by armed Israeli settlers while visiting the West Bank on July 11, 2026. According to Khanna's office, he and his team were surrounded by settlers near the Palestinian village of Khirbet Zanuta, who were armed with American-made M4 machine guns. Khanna claimed that when Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers arrived, they sided with the settlers. The situation was resolved only after Israeli police arrived to disperse the settlers and clear the path for Khanna's group. Khanna stated, 'I'm certainly probably the first American politician who's been detained by the IDF and Israeli settlers.' He expressed that the incident has influenced his thoughts on a potential presidential run in 2028, emphasizing the need for a new moral direction in the Democratic Party. The Israeli military confirmed that troops intervened after receiving reports of settlers blocking vehicles and stated that they dispersed the civilians upon arrival.