U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna says IDF lied about West Bank detention

A U.S. congressman has accused the Israeli military of lying about an incident in the West Bank last week in which he says he was detained and intimidated by armed settlers and soldiers. Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, made the allegations following a trip to the occupied territory on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

Khanna stated that while visiting the ruins of the Palestinian village of Khirbet Zanuta in the South Hebron Hills, his group's van was blocked by Israeli settlers armed with rifles. He described a confrontation lasting between 20 and 90 minutes during which the settlers mocked the group, kicked their vehicle's tires, and brandished their weapons. Khanna said four Israel Defense Forces soldiers then arrived, sided with the settlers, and continued to block the road. He said the group felt "powerless" and "fearful" for their lives before eventually being allowed to pass after contacting the U.S. Embassy.

The IDF has firmly disputed this account. In a statement, the military said troops were dispatched after receiving a report of Israeli civilians unlawfully blocking a vehicle in a closed military zone. The IDF said soldiers "quickly dispersed the Israeli...