Representative Ro Khanna was detained by Israeli settlers for more than an hour during a recent visit to the West Bank, according to statements confirmed by a spokesperson for the congressman. The incident, which was initially reported by The New York Times, was also witnessed by a photojournalist from the publication. During the encounter, members of the Israel Defense Forces arrived on the scene, spoke with the settlers, and moved a vehicle to obstruct the roadway.
This event occurs as various U.S. political figures have visited the region since the onset of the war in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Previous visits include House Speaker Mike Johnson in September 2025 and a tour by Democratic lawmakers Chris van Hollen and Jeff Merkley in August 2025. Diplomatic tensions have occasionally flared during such visits, notably in May 2025 when IDF troops fired warning shots near a delegation of international diplomats from Japan, Russia, and the European Union, an action the military justified by claiming the group had entered a restricted area.
Khanna s experience was first reported by The Times. A spokesperson for the congressman confirmed the details of the report to CBS News, noting that a photojournalist from the publication also witnessed the interaction. The situation in the West Bank remains volatile, with the United Nations reporting that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory and eastern Jerusalem since the war began. Residents and activists have reported a significant rise in settler-led violence, which has at times displaced local populations. Israel continues to expand its settlements in the region, which are considered illegal by the United Nations. Currently, more than 700,000 Israelis reside in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, with approximately 15% of that population being American citizens.
Accountability for settler actions remains a point of contention. According to data from the Israeli rights group Yesh Din, fewer than 1% of the 2,427 complaints alleging wrongdoing by soldiers against Palestinians between 2016 and 2024 resulted in an indictment. While some U.S. allies have imposed sanctions on senior Israeli officials accused of inciting violence against Palestinians, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly condemned these measures and advocated for their reversal.
Updated on: July 11, 2026 / 10:42 AM EDT / CBS News
