US Congressman Ro Khanna says he and several other Americans were detained for about 90 minutes by armed Israeli settlers while visiting the occupied West Bank.According to Khanna, the settlers, carrying US-made M4 rifles, blocked their group near the village of Khirbet Zanuta in the southern West Bank.

He alleged that when Israeli Defence Forces arrived, they interacted amicably with the settlers and initially prevented his group from leaving, leaving him with a greater appreciation of the daily challenges faced by Palestinians living under occupation.Khanna said the group was eventually allowed to continue only after contact was made with the US embassy and Israeli police.

The Israeli military disputed claims of involvement, stating its troops responded to reports of civilians unlawfully blocking foreign nationals, dispersed the settlers and reopened the road without participating in the blockade.

The incident comes amid ongoing international concern over increasing settler violence in the West Bank since the Gaza war began in October 2023 and continued criticism of Israeli settlement expansion, which is regarded as illegal under international law.

In a separate incident, Israeli police arrested four settlers after they allegedly attacked a CNN news crew and other international journalists near the village of Sinjil.Police said the suspects blocked journalists' vehicles and that officers later seized clubs and a knife during the arrests.The events also highlight growing debate within US politics over support for Israel.

Khanna, a prominent Democrat, argued that the treatment of Palestinians has become a significant moral and political issue within his party, with some lawmakers increasingly questioning continued US military assistance to Israel.