A member of US Representative Ro Khanna’s delegation has provided a detailed account of the circumstances surrounding his detention in the West Bank, alleging that Israeli settlers enlisted the help of friendly Israel Defense Forces personnel to block his exit until police arrived.
The disclosure, reported by The Jerusalem Post, adds a new layer of complexity to an incident that has already drawn sharp criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who publicly condemned the actions of the settlers involved.
Khanna, a Democratic lawmaker from California, stated that his group was held for more than an hour by individuals armed with US-made rifles.
The lawmaker did not distinguish between violent settlers and other Jewish residents living inside the Green Line in his initial reports, framing the encounter as a broader security concern for foreign visitors to the region.
The new testimony suggests that the obstruction was not solely the work of civilian settlers but involved coordinated efforts with military associates.
The incident underscores the volatile security environment in the West Bank and the growing diplomatic friction between Washington and Jerusalem over settler violence.