Khanna, a Democratic representative from California, said the incident occurred on Wednesday while he was touring Khirbet Zanuta, a Palestinian hamlet in the southern West Bank that has witnessed repeated settler attacks, News.Az reports, citing India Today.
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According to Khanna, his group’s vehicle was surrounded by Israeli settlers carrying American-made M4 rifles after they visited a village that he alleged had been destroyed by settlers.
“We were at a village that Israeli settlers had destroyed… and these hoodlums came in with machine guns… They blocked the road and then called the IDF, which sided with them instead of the Americans,” Khanna told Reuters during his visit.
Cameron Kasky, an aide travelling with Khanna, said the group contacted the US Embassy in Jerusalem for assistance while they were being held. He said police officers later arrived and dispersed the settlers, allowing the delegation to leave.
The Israeli military confirmed that troops and police responded after receiving reports of settlers blocking vehicles near Khirbet Zanuta. It said security personnel cleared the civilians from the road and allowed the vehicles to continue. Israeli police did not immediately comment on the incident, while the US Embassy has yet to issue a statement.
The episode came as Khanna signalled that he is seriously weighing a run for the White House in 2028. “I’m strongly considering it, and I’m more resolved to consider it after this trip,” he said.
