• US congressman Ro Khanna was allegedly detained by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
• The settlers reportedly used US-made M4 rifles during the incident.
• Khanna's visit aimed to highlight human rights issues under Israeli occupation.
• The Israeli military reportedly sided with the settlers during the confrontation.
• Support for Israel among Democrats has significantly declined in recent years.

US Democratic lawmaker Ro Khanna has alleged that he was detained by Israeli settlers armed with US-made M4 rifles during a visit to the occupied West Bank. According to Khanna, the incident occurred while his group was inspecting the Palestinian village of Khirbet Zanuta, which has experienced significant violence from settlers. "We were at a village that Israeli settlers had destroyed...and these hoodlums come in with machine guns," he stated, expressing significant concern about the actions of both the settlers and the Israeli military, who he claimed sided with them during the confrontation, according to Indiatimes and SCMP.

During the incident, Khanna and his aides reported being surrounded for more than an hour before receiving assistance from the US Embassy in Jerusalem. An aide, Cameron Kasky, confirmed that they repeatedly contacted the embassy for support. Eventually, Israeli police intervened and facilitated their release, with Khanna expressing discontent over the IDF's lack of support, as they "sided with the settlers," according to Middle East Eye and BBC.

Khanna's remarks come against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny around US military assistance to Israel, which totals $3.8 billion annually. He noted that the growing opposition within the Democratic Party to Israel's treatment of Palestinians reflects a seismic shift in political sentiment. Polling data indicates that Israel's favourability among Democratic voters has plummeted from 59% in 2018 to just 22% in May 2023, raising questions about future US foreign policy direction, according to Indiatimes, SCMP, and Middle East Eye.

In his statements following the incident, Khanna emphasized the moral implications of the US's role in the Israel-Palestine conflict, wondering how Democratic leaders can stand by without addressing the humanitarian crises. "If you're unwilling to speak up for Palestinian human rights... then you are morally compromised," he asserted, highlighting the ethical considerations surrounding US foreign aid to the region, as noted by BBC and Middle East Eye.