• US Congressman Ro Khanna alleges he was detained by Israeli settlers armed with US-made rifles.
• The incident occurred during a visit to the Palestinian village of Khirbet Zanuta.
• Khanna criticized Israeli military support for settlers during the confrontation.
• The event intensifies discussions on US military aid to Israel among Democrats.
• Support for Israel among Democrats has significantly declined recently.

California Representative Ro Khanna reported being detained for over an hour by Israeli settlers armed with US-made M4 rifles during a visit to the occupied West Bank. The congressman was part of a group touring the Palestinian village of Khirbet Zanuta, an area known for prior violent settler attacks and displacement of residents. Khanna commented on the destruction they were observing, stating, "We were at a village that Israeli settlers had destroyed... and these hoodlums come in with machine guns" according to Indiatimes, SCMP, Middle East Eye, BBC, and LA Times.

An aide traveling with Khanna, Cameron Kasky, confirmed that they had reached out to the US Embassy for assistance during their detention. When the Israel Defense Forces arrived, they allegedly sided with the settlers, complicating the situation further for Khanna and his group. Khanna remarked, "If they will do this to an American congressman, imagine what is happening to Palestinian families who are just trying to live," conveying a critical perspective on the implications of US support for Israeli military actions, as reported by Indiatimes, Middle East Eye, and LA Times.

The incident underscores the growing divide within the Democratic Party regarding support for Israel, which has been shifting significantly. Polls indicate a drastic drop in favorability for Israel among Democratic voters, plummeting from 59% in 2018 to only 22% in May 2023. This reflects a broader narrative of shifting sentiment regarding military aid and human rights in the region, as indicated by SCMP, Middle East Eye, and BBC.

Khanna's experience while visiting the West Bank is part of a broader dialogue about US foreign policy and military aid to Israel. On this visit, he emphasized wanting to understand the “human toll of Israeli occupation,” positioning himself politically as he considers a presidential run in 2028, a sentiment echoed in statements from both SCMP and LA Times.