AiBotIn a dramatic and disturbing incident, Rep. Ro Khanna said that he and his congressional delegation were detained for over an hour by armed Israeli settlers while visiting a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank. According to Khanna, the settlers, who were equipped with M4 rifles, blocked their vehicle before Israeli security forces intervened.
The Indian-American congressman, who represents California’s 17th congressional district, expressed his deep concern over the incident during a press briefing on Wednesday. “We are here to stand in solidarity with the Palestinians and to see the humanitarian crisis unfolding on the ground,” Khanna said. “However, what was shocking to us was when we were detained by Israeli settlers with M4 rifles.”
Khanna, who was joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), visited the Palestinian village of Jalud in the Nablus district of the occupied West Bank. The village has been a hotspot of tension between Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents.
As the lawmakers were traveling through the village, they reported that their vehicle was blocked by Israeli settlers who were armed with rifles. Khanna stated that Israeli security forces eventually arrived on the scene, allowing the delegation to proceed. “What was deeply disturbing was to see Israeli settlers using violence and intimidation to try to block our access,” Khanna said.
The congressman also criticized the Israeli military for siding with the settlers. “The Israeli military seems to be siding with the settlers, rather than upholding the law and protecting the Palestinian people,” Khanna said. “This is a very disturbing trend that we see in the occupied territories.”
The incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents in the occupied West Bank. The settlers have long been accused of using violence and harassment to try to drive Palestinians out of their homes. The Israeli military has also come under criticism for its handling of the situation.
The visit by Khanna and his congressional delegation is seen as a significant gesture of support for the Palestinian people. The lawmakers held meetings with Palestinian officials and visited several communities affected by the occupation. Khanna said that the delegation will continue to push for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, while also holding Israel accountable for its actions.
“The United States has a long-standing commitment to a two-state solution, and we believe that there is a way forward for peace in the Middle East,” Khanna said. “But we also believe that Israel must be held accountable for its actions, and we will continue to push for a more just and equitable solution for the Palestinian people.”