Ro Khanna, a US Democrat, was detained by armed Israeli settlers while visiting the ruins of Khirbet Zanuta. Khanna, a father-of-two, is considering a presidential run in 2028.
Khanna was on a fact-finding visit to look at the impact of Israeli occupation. He said they were at a village that Israeli settlers had destroyed, with the school and village in ruins.
Armed settlers arrived with M4 machine guns, detaining Khanna and blocking the road. The settlers then called the IDF, which sided with them, not the Americans, according to Khanna.
Khanna’s aide appealed to the US Embassy in Jerusalem for help, and they were released after police intervened. Israel has built 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the 1967 Middle East war.
An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside them, with the settlements being illegal under international law. The IDF said troops dispersed the Israeli civilians and allowed the vehicles to continue on their way.
Khanna’s detention highlights the tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. The US Embassy in Jerusalem has not commented on the incident. Khanna’s experience may impact his potential presidential run in 2028.
The incident has sparked concerns about the treatment of Americans in the West Bank. The US State Department has not released a statement on the incident, but it is likely to be discussed in upcoming diplomatic talks.
As the situation in the West Bank continues to escalate, the international community is watching closely. The UK, EU, and other countries have called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, with the US playing a key role in negotiations.
The next steps for Khanna and the US government are unclear, but the incident is likely to be discussed in the coming weeks. With the 2028 presidential election on the horizon, Khanna’s experience in the West Bank may become a key issue in his campaign.
