![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d-ca-interviewed-reuters-visit-134069756.jpg\")
Rep. Ro Khanna gives an interview from the West Bank. REUTERS<\/p>\nLefty California Rep. Ro Khanna claimed he was detained by armed Israeli settlers during a visit to the West Bank this week while warning the Israeli military \u201cthey made a huge mistake\u201d<\/p>\n
The Silicon Valley Democrat, fiercely outspoken critic of Israel who is weighing a 2028 presidential run, told Reuters his group\u2019s van was surrounded by settlers with rifles on Wednesday while touring a part of the southern West Bank.<\/p>\n
Rep. Ro Khanna gives an interview from the West Bank. REUTERS<\/p>\n
\u201cIsraeli settlers, brandishing American made M4s, detained me & other Americans on my trip to Palestine,\u201d he wrote in a post on X Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the IDF arrived, they sided with the settlers & continued our detention. They made a huge mistake. You will be hearing more soon,\u201d he added, without elaborating.<\/p>\n
One of Khanna\u2019s aides said the group was held for more than an hour and reached out to the US Embassy in Jerusalem for help before eventually being released.<\/p>\n
Israeli settlers, brandishing American made M4s, detained me & other Americans on my trip to Palestine.<\/p>\n
When the IDF arrived, they sided with the settlers & continued our detention.<\/p>\n
They made a huge mistake.<\/p>\n
You will be hearing more soon. https:\/\/t.co\/rZw8bRAn64<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/4z50Ye4I7K<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) July 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The Israeli military told Reuters that there was a report of settlers blocking vehicles near Khirbet Zanuta, a small Palestinian hamlet. <\/p>\n \u201cUpon their arrival, the troops dispersed the Israeli civilians and allowed the vehicles to continue on their way,\u201d the military said.<\/p>\n Khanna has has openly embraced an an anti-Israel tone, co-sponsoring a resolution to label Israel\u2019s military actions in Gaza a \u201cgenocide.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the reasons we lost [the 2024 presidential election] is our blank check to Israel and Netanyahu while they committed genocide in Gaza,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n While he\u2019s said he believes in \u201cthe right for Israel to exist\u2026 what I don\u2019t believe is if it means Greater Israel,\u201d said Khanna<\/a>, adding that he supports a two-state solution.<\/p>\n Khanna\u2019s visit to the Middle East comes as the issue of Israel\u2019s conflict with Palestine plays a make-or-break role in progressive politics. Many on the far-left in California have viewed support for Palestine as a crucial litmus test.<\/p>\n Two weeks ago, progressive Bay Area congressional candidate Scott Wiener, <\/a>who is vying to replace Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Congress, was confronted by pro-Palestinian agitators in separate incidents just days apart.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d-ca-interviewed-reuters-visit-134069768.jpg\")
Khanna has accused Israel of \u201cgenocide.\u201d REUTERS<\/p>\n