Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California said this weekend that IDF soldiers joined local Jewish residents in blockading his vehicle for over an hour during a visit to Yehuda and Shomron earlier this week, and called on the Israeli government to prosecute those involved.

Speaking with CNN on Saturday, Khanna said the incident occurred after he visited an elementary school that he said had been destroyed by extremists from the area. He described young men brandishing M4 rifles, circling his vans, cursing at his group in Hebrew and Arabic, and blockading the vehicles while filming and laughing.

Khanna said he and his team contacted the U.S. Embassy and waited for IDF soldiers to arrive. When four soldiers reached the scene, Khanna claimed they sided with the local residents rather than intervening on his behalf, telling his security detail they didn’t care that an American congressman was involved.

The IDF disputed the characterization of its soldiers’ conduct, saying in a statement that troops were dispatched to the scene upon receiving the report, quickly dispersed the Israeli civilians, and reopened the blocked road. The IDF said its soldiers did not take part in blocking the road.

Khanna said he and his team were ultimately freed after communication between the U.S. Embassy and a senior Israeli official, and that both the embassy and the Israeli government had been notified of his trip in advance.

The visit comes amid a rise in tensions in Yehuda and Shomron, including an incident Saturday in which Israeli Police arrested four local residents following an altercation with CNN and other journalists in the area.

Khanna, a progressive lawmaker considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has been sharply critical of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza. He said he sought to visit the region to see the situation firsthand, and that he intends to press the White House and State Department for information on how the Israeli government plans to handle the IDF soldiers involved.