US Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, said he was detained by Israeli settlers and the Israeli military in the West Bank. The incident occurred during a three-day tour of the West Bank, when Khanna visited a Palestinian village that had been abandoned after settler attacks.

Details of the Incident

According to Khanna’s office, masked men with guns stopped his group and refused to let them leave. Israeli soldiers arrived and interacted in a friendly manner with the settlers, blocking the exit for Khanna’s party. The group was only allowed to proceed after the US Embassy and Israeli police were called.

Khanna expressed concern over the treatment of Palestinians, stating, ‘If this can happen to an American member of Congress, imagine what life is like for Palestinians who have no smartphones, no security, and no national platform.’ The Israeli Defense Forces denied detaining any visitors in the incident.

Escalating Tensions

The incident is the latest example of escalating political tensions involving Israel and its ally’s Democratic Party. Democratic politicians from the US have stepped up their criticism of Israel amid a sharp turn against the country by the party’s voters since the war in Gaza began.

A recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 58% of Democrats said the US is ‘too supportive’ of Israelis. Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a potential White House contender, gave a speech in Tel Aviv criticizing Israel’s actions.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.