Crowd storms Russian airport to protest flight from Israel

On Sunday, a large group of people reportedly entered the airport in Makhachkala, the capital of Russia’s Dagestan region, and accessed the landing field to protest the arrival of an airliner from Tel Aviv.

The airport was temporarily shut down, and police were dispatched to the scene. As of now, there have been no reports of arrests or injuries.

Reports suggest that the crowd shouted racially charged slogans and attempted to storm the aircraft belonging to the Russian carrier Red Wings.

Footage shared on social media showed protesters waving Palestinian flags while some tried to overturn a police vehicle.

Additionally, some protesters were seen checking the passports of passengers who had arrived in Makhachkala.

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, released a statement on Sunday night, requesting the Russian law enforcement authorities to take necessary action against rioters and antisemitic incitement.

The Israeli ambassador to Russia is working closely with the Russian government to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens and Jews in the region.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs for Russia’s North Caucasian Federal District, where Dagestan is located, has stated that they will use CCTV footage to identify those who stormed the airport, and those involved will be held accountable.

While expressing support for Gaza, the regional Dagestani government urged citizens to remain calm and not participate in such protests.

The Supreme Mufti of Dagestan, Sheikh Akhmad Afandi, also called on residents to stop the unrest at the airport, stating that rallies are not the right way to address the issue.

He urged residents to show maximum patience and calm and assured them that the issue will be resolved appropriately.