'If this can happen to me...': Ro Khanna recalls his detention during West Bank visit; IDF denies the claim

Indian-origin US Congressman Rep. Ro Khanna said on Saturday that he was detained by the Israeli military and settlers in the occupied West Bank. The representative from California noted that he was only released after calls to the American embassy in Jerusalem. However, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) denied detaining any visitors in the incident, reflecting the growing tussle between Israel and the American Democratic Party.

Khanna, a representative from California, is known to be an outspoken progressive, critical of Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. A spokesperson from his office maintained that the confrontation took place on Wednesday, in the middle of his three-day tour of the West Bank.

During his trip to the contested region, Khanna paid a visit to a Palestinian village that had been abandoned after settler attacks. However, masked men with guns soon stopped his group and refused to let them leave. According to The New York Times, the whole ordeal was also witnessed by one of its photographers.

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What went down in the West Bank

Khanna's office maintained that the incident occurred in the town of Khirbet Zanuta. The congressman from California said that when the Israeli soldiers arrived, he was dispirited to see them interact in a friendly manner with the settlers and block the exit for the congressman's party.

Things only simmered down after a call from the US embassy, and Israeli police were called for Khanna's group to proceed. "If this can happen to an American member of Congress, imagine what life is like for Palestinians who have no smartphones, no security, and no national platform," Khanna, who is exploring a presidential bid in 2028, said in a fundraising email he sent out shortly after his post Saturday about the incident.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the IDF said that it received a report of Israeli citizens blocking foreign nationals and media in Khirbet Zanuta. "Upon receiving the report, IDF troops were dispatched to the scene, quickly dispersed the Israeli civilians, and reopened the blocked road," the military said in a statement. "The IDF soldiers operating in the area did not take part in blocking the road." However, the IDF outright denied detaining Khanna in the incident.