US Representative Ro Khanna says armed Israeli settlers detained him during a recent visit to the occupied West Bank, and that Israeli forces declined to intervene.
Key facts
- Congressman Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, says he was detained by armed Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
- Khanna, 49, says he was held for about 90 minutes, according to the BBC.
- He said the settlers were armed with US-made weapons and that the Israel Defense Forces refused to intervene.
- The detention occurred while his delegation visited an area of the southern West Bank that has seen repeated settler attacks.
US Congressman Ro Khanna says he was detained by armed Israeli settlers during a recent visit to the Israel-occupied West Bank, describing the encounter as a first-hand view of the realities faced by Palestinians living under occupation.
In an interview with Reuters on Thursday from a Palestinian village, Khanna, a progressive House Democrat from California, said the detention happened the previous day while his delegation visited an area of the southern West Bank that has experienced repeated attacks by Israeli settlers, according to the Guardian.
Khanna said the settlers were armed with US-made weapons and that the Israel Defense Forces refused to intervene, the Guardian reported.
The BBC reported that Khanna, 49, said he was held for about 90 minutes during the visit to the occupied West Bank.
Sky News also reported the account, saying the US politician stated he was detained by armed Israeli settlers during his visit to the West Bank.
Khanna framed the experience as illustrative of conditions for Palestinians under occupation, drawing on his visit to the southern West Bank, an area he described as subject to repeated settler attacks.
Why it matters
A sitting US lawmaker publicly describing being detained by armed settlers adds a high-profile voice to scrutiny of conditions in the occupied West Bank. His claim that the weapons were US-made and that Israeli forces did not intervene raises questions relevant to US policy and military support.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ro Khanna?
Ro Khanna is a progressive US House Democrat from California. He is 49, according to the BBC.
How long was he detained?
According to the BBC, Khanna said he was held for about 90 minutes.
Where did the incident happen?
Khanna said it occurred in an area of the southern West Bank that has experienced repeated attacks by Israeli settlers, according to the Guardian.