Rep. Ro Khanna said Israeli settlers carrying American-made M4 rifles detained him and other Americans during a visit to the West Bank. In a Saturday post on X, Khanna said when Israeli Defense Forces arrived, “they sided with the settlers” and continued the detention, calling it “a huge mistake.”

The incident occurred on Wednesday near the village of Khirbet Zanuta. Khanna’s team had appealed to the US Embassy in Jerusalem before police intervened.

Eyewitness Disputes IDF’s Version

On Saturday, Nadav Weiman, an expert on settler violence who accompanied the delegation as an eyewitness, wrote on X that armed settlers arrived first, with soldiers joining them soon after, holding the group for over an hour. He said the IDF’s account was false.

The IDF’s account conflicts with both versions of events. In a statement to the BBC, the IDF said troops responded to reports of blocked vehicles near Khirbet Zanuta on Wednesday and “dispersed the Israeli civilians,” allowing the delegation to proceed. IDF did not immediately respond to MarketDash’s request for comment.

Republican Colleague Pushes Back, Khanna Fires Back

Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) dismissed the account on X, calling it “another plea for publicity” and questioning why Khanna was there at all, writing, “It isn’t your country.”

“How about being on Team America Greg,” Khanna wrote, urging Murphy to instead press the US ambassador to Israel to demand consequences for the “IDF soldiers & violent settlers who threatened & detained American passport holders.”

Carlson Demands Ambassador’s Removal

Once a close ally of President Donald Trump, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson blasted the episode, arguing an American lawmaker had been threatened by armed foreign nationals backed by a military funded by US taxpayers. He said the US ambassador’s silence was “too much, too insulting and humiliating to America,” and called for Ambassador Mike Huckabee’s removal.

Khanna, seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender, was examining the area.