California Rep. Ro Khanna clashed with Fox News host Gillian Turner over his reported West Bank detention. Khanna accused U.S. Ambassador to Israel Michael Leiter of lying about whether his delegation coordinated the trip. The exchange drew attention as Khanna and Israeli officials offered conflicting accounts.
The interview aired on Fox News and circulated online with video from the West Bank. Turner challenged Khanna with statements from Leiter and the Israel Defense Forces.
Khanna said armed settlers surrounded his van, kicked its tires and ignored warnings that four Americans were inside. He said Israel Defense Forces soldiers later blocked the road and detained the group for 75 minutes.
Turner said Israeli officials disputed Khanna’s account and denied soldiers blocked the road. She also said his team entered a restricted area without prior coordination.
Khanna rejected those claims, saying, “The ambassador is blatantly lying,” and insisting his team informed Israel. He separately praised U.S. Embassy staff for contacting Israeli officials and securing the group’s release.
Turner read an IDF statement saying troops dispersed Israeli civilians and reopened the road. The statement said soldiers “did not take part in blocking the road.”
Khanna urged viewers to examine new footage, which he said showed four soldiers blocking the group. He called for the settlers’ arrests and an investigation into the IDF officers.
Ro Khanna West Bank Detention Interview Draws Divided Reaction
Online responses focused on Khanna’s account and Turner’s questioning.
One user wrote, “Fox treats Democrats as hostile witnesses and Republicans as honored guests.” Another questioned, “So Fox News takes Israeli reports of what happened over what our own congressman says as fact? She’s a hack!”
A separate response stated, “Unconscionable that Fox News would take this approach towards a sitting Congressman whose life was just threatened by Israeli settlers. Truly unconscionable.”
Another argued, “Fox News is massively overplaying their hand thinking that Americans care more about Israel than the United States.”
Others defended Turner’s questioning and challenged Khanna’s account. One response stated, “He lied she is doing her job.” Another asked, “Who walks into a war zone to tour with the enemy and says I should be able to go wherever I want because I am American.”
Khanna continues seeking arrests and an investigation, while Israeli officials deny soldiers blocked the road.
