US Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna revealed details of a serious incident he experienced during his recent visit to the occupied West Bank. Khanna, who represents California, explained that a group of Israeli settlers armed with American-made 'M-4' rifles detained him and surrounded the vehicle he was in.
The incident occurred in the southern West Bank, specifically near the village of Khirbet Zanuta, whose residents have been forcibly displaced due to repeated settler attacks. The US Congressman indicated that the settlers blocked their way and called Israeli army forces, who sided with the settlers instead of protecting the American delegation.
For his part, Cameron Kasky, Congressman Khanna's aide, confirmed that the group remained detained for over an hour at gunpoint. Kasky explained that they had to contact the US Embassy in Jerusalem for urgent assistance, and were only released after the intervention of Israeli police officers later.
In a related context, Al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah, witnessed a new field escalation following a raid by dozens of settlers under heavy protection from the occupation army. The attack targeted the home of citizen Abdul Latif Abu Alia, where settlers attempted to impose a new reality by forcibly bringing their livestock into the vicinity of the house.
Field sources reported that occupation forces fired live ammunition, tear gas, and sound grenades intensely at citizens who tried to confront the settlers. These clashes resulted in a 17-year-old boy being shot in the leg, after which he was transferred to the hospital for necessary treatment.
The tear gas and sound grenades fired by occupation soldiers caused fires to break out in the lands surrounding the Abu Alia family home in Al-Mughayyir village. These attacks come at a time when the village residents are suffering from the loss of vast areas of their agricultural lands and ancient olive trees to the surrounding settlement outposts.
Official statistics issued by the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission indicate a frightening escalation in the pace of settler attacks, with approximately 3500 attacks recorded during the first half of this year. These attacks include the demolition of schools, uprooting of trees, and direct physical assault on Palestinian citizens in various governorates.
In additional reports, eight Palestinians were injured to varying degrees in different areas of the West Bank as a result of joint attacks by settlers and occupation forces. The injuries included a child in Al-Mughayyir village who was hit by a sound grenade in the head, in addition to four citizens who were severely beaten in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron.
The attacks were not limited to individuals, but also targeted infrastructure and property, as settlers attacked Qabalan municipality crews south of Nablus and destroyed a farm in the Al-Masoudiya area. Widespread destruction of crops and trees was also recorded in Khirbet Masoud near Ya'bad town in Jenin governorate, as part of the economic squeeze policy on Palestinians.
Congressman Ro Khanna believes that what he witnessed in the West Bank represents a 'moral test' for the Democratic Party and American leadership regarding the issues of Palestine and Gaza. Khanna affirmed that his visit, coordinated by Palestinians, aimed to see the reality without embellishment, emphasizing the need to condemn the apartheid system existing in the occupied territories.
Pressure is increasing within the US Congress to demand a halt or restriction of military aid provided to Israel, which amounts to $3.8 billion annually. Democratic representatives are demanding guarantees that these weapons, especially light ones, are not used in attacks carried out by settlers against Palestinian civilians.
It is worth noting that the situation in the West Bank has reached unprecedented levels of violence since October 7, 2023, with 1751 martyrs and approximately 13,000 injured. These figures coincide with widespread arrest campaigns targeting approximately 24,000 Palestinians, amid settlement expansion that is devouring what remains of the future Palestinian state's lands.
If you are unwilling to defend the human rights of Palestinians and condemn the apartheid system, then your moral stance is questionable.
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Settlers Detain US Congressman in West Bank, Teen Shot by Occupation Forces in Ramallah