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Congressman says he was detained by Israeli settlers in the West Bank

▶ Watch Video: How archaeology turns political in the West Bank

Congressman Ro Khanna said he was detained by Israeli settlers for over an hour while visiting the West Bank. Khanna also said members of the Israel Defense Forces spoke with the settlers and moved a car to block the road. 

Khanna’s experience was first reported by The New York Times. A spokesperson for the congressman confirmed the details of the Times’ report to CBS News. The Times said a photojournalist from the publication also witnessed the interaction. 

When asked to comment on Khanna’s allegations, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said it had received a report of Israeli civilians “unlawfully blocking the vehicles of foreign nationals and members of the media.” The IDF said troops “were dispatched to the scene, quickly dispersed the Israeli civilians, and reopened the blocked road.” 

The IDF also said the soldiers “did not take part in blocking the road,” and the “identity of the armed individual is currently under review.”

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Ro Khanna, a congressman from California, says he was detained by Israeli settlers for over an hour while visiting the West Bank on July 8, 2026. 

Staff of Rep. Ro Khanna

U.S. politicians from both sides of the aisle have visited the West Bank since the war in Gaza was sparked by a massive attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. House Speaker Mike Johnson visited the territory in September 2025 and dined with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Democrats Chris van Hollen and Jeff Merkley, of Maryland and Oregon, respectively, toured the region in August 2025. 

Several nations that have supported Israel during the war in Gaza criticized the country after IDF troops fired what they called “warning shots” near a group of diplomats visiting the territory in May 2025. The delegation included representatives from the European Union, Japan and Russia. The IDF said the shots were fired after the group wandered off an approved route and entered a restricted area. 

The United Nations said in May that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem since the war began. CBS News has met Palestinian residents and Israeli activists in the West Bank who say violent attacks by Israeli settlers have increased significantly since the war in Gaza began, including attacks that have driven people from their land. Israel has also continued to expand its settlements in the territory. 

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Ro Khanna, a congressman from California, says he was detained by Israeli settlers in the West Bank on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

Staff of Rep. Ro Khanna

Israeli soldiers accused of harming Palestinians in the West Bank are rarely penalized and were indicted in fewer than 1% of cases based on 2,427 complaints alleging wrongdoing between 2016 and 2024, according to Israeli rights group Yesh Din.

More than 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 from Jordan and sought by the Palestinians for a future state. About 15% of the settlers are Americans. 

The United Nations call Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, and Israel has been criticized for the actions of settlers in the territory. Five long-time U.S. allies jointly imposed sanctions on two senior Israeli officials who they accused of “inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the sanctions and called for their reversal. 

Rep. Max Miller, accused of abuse, will remain in reelection race as withdrawal deadline passes

By CNN
(CNN) — Rep. Max Miller will remain in his race for reelection, despite abuse allegations that have rocked his campaign and prompted growing calls from fellow Republicans for him to drop out.Miller, who has denied the allegations of abuse from his ex-wife, has consistently maintained that he would remain in the race for Ohio’s 7th District. But now that the deadline for party leaders to replace him on the ballot has passed, his position on the ticket is locked in.Miller would have had to drop out by Saturday evening. The deadline for Republican leaders to replace him on the ballot is August 10, but two days’ notice is required before party leaders would hold a meeting to pick the candidate.Miller’s spokesperson told CNN on Sunday that he is remaining in the race.The controversies surrounding Miller, who represents a district in eastern Ohio, threaten to jeopardize his chances of winning what was once thought to be a safe GOP seat, and could imperil Republicans’ chances of maintaining control of the House in this year’s midterms.CNN previously reported that party officials led an intense push to get him out of the race, believing he could imperil the GOP’s chances in the district, according to a source familiar with the matter. Allies of Donald Trump also pushed the president to encourage Miller to drop his reelection bid, CNN has reported, amid the abuse claims and pressure from Miller’s former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno.Moreno has been increasingly vocal about the issue, saying his fellow Ohioan “should not serve” in Congress and calling him “a danger to my daughter.”The state’s junior Republican senator, Jon Husted, separately called for Miller to abandon his race and to resign from Congress.In an interview on CNN last week, Miller said he had spoken with Trump about his position in the race.Trump, Miller said, told him the race would be “tough” and seemed to express doubt about his chances to win.But Miller remained defiant in the interview that he would remain in the race and clear his name.Emily Moreno accused Miller of abusing both her and her daughter throughout their marriage, which ended last year. The couple’s divorce and child custody dispute have become increasingly public in recent weeks, especially in the light of a combative livestream from Miller last week in which he sought to defend against his ex-wife’s claims.After the livestream, Miller posted on social media a link to a file containing hundreds of messages, pictures and videos exchanged between him and Moreno that he said would exonerate him from claims of mistreating his wife and daughter.But the release of that information generated its own controversy after an attorney for Miller conceded the files inadvertently had contained sensitive details about Miller’s family.Miller is set to face Democrat Brian Poindexter, an ironworker, on November 3.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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