US Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna stated that during his visit to Palestine, he and his delegation were blocked and detained by Israeli settlers who obstructed the road they were traveling on. Khanna said the settlers, armed with M4 rifles, kicked their van’s tires, mocked them, and recorded videos while they were held for about 20 minutes, fearing for their lives. He added that when Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers arrived, they told his translator that they supported the settlers and continued to block the road.

The IDF denied that Khanna was detained or that the road was obstructed. Speaking on the US television program “Meet the Press,” Khanna accused the IDF of lying about the incident, calling it unprecedented and claiming that violent settlers detained American citizens, including a US government official.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories and raises questions about the treatment of foreign officials and civilians in conflict zones.