Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna has raised allegations against armed Israeli settlers and soldiers for detaining him and fellow American citizens in the West Bank. During a visit to the occupied territory, Khanna reported that settlers carrying M4 rifles stopped their delegation, causing safety concerns.
Khanna described the unsettling experience, stating that the armed settlers detained American citizens, including a government official, while behaving aggressively towards them. The group was held for about 20 minutes before Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers arrived at the scene.
The situation escalated when the soldiers allegedly sided with the settlers, prolonging the detainment of the delegation. Khanna expressed fear for their safety during the encounter and highlighted the need for an investigation into the incident. Following intervention from the US Embassy, the group was eventually allowed to continue their visit after about 75 minutes.
The IDF countered Khanna’s claims, stating that troops were promptly dispatched to disperse the civilians and clear the roadblock. However, Khanna disputed this version of events, insisting that the soldiers were complicit in the detainment. He called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch an investigation into the settlers and the soldiers involved.
