Dagestan: Crowd storms Russian airport as flight from Tel Aviv lands and global tensions spiral over Gaza war

CNN
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An offended crowd in Russia’s principally Muslim area of Dagestan stormed an airport the place a flight from Israel arrived on Sunday, forcing authorities to shut the power and divert flights.

Multiple movies posted on social media confirmed a crowd of individuals contained in the Makhachkala Uytash Airport (MCX) and on the runway, some waving the Palestinian flag, others forcing their method via closed doorways within the worldwide terminal.

In pictures and movies verified by CNN, the group exterior the airport held antisemitic indicators that included slogans such as “We are against Jewish refugees,” and “There is no place for child-killers in Dagestan.”

Clashes left at the very least 10 folks injured, together with two folks in important situation, in response to a press release by the Dagestan Health Ministry late Sunday.

The airport was quickly closed and flights have been diverted, in response to a press release from the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, saying “unknown persons” broke into the power.

The Red Wing Airlines flight from Tel Aviv arrived Sunday at 7:17 p.m. native time, in response to Flight Aware, and was rapidly surrounded by protesters upon touchdown.

In one video, a pilot takes to the speaker of his plane to say: “It is not safe to open the doors” as a result of “protesters are below our plane.”

According to Russian state media TASS, “those gathered oppose the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

The airport resumed operations on Monday, it stated in a press release, whereas the Kremlin sought to position blame on “external interference.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Russian President Vladimir Putin has been receiving in depth updates on the state of affairs in Dagestan from varied safety businesses and native authorities, and has scheduled an in depth assembly for Monday night to handle the riots and alleged Western affect.

The incident is the newest for example big global tensions and divides over the continued Israel-Hamas war, which was sparked by a coordinated October 7 assault by the militant group that killed some 1,400 folks, principally civilians, and the kidnapping of greater than 200 folks.

Israel’s retaliation has been relentless, with Gaza beneath siege and closely bombarded, inflaming tensions far past the Middle East.

Israeli strikes on Gaza have resulted in some 8,000 fatalities, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah stated on Sunday, drawing the info from sources within the Hamas-controlled enclave. Around 3,000 of these killed are youngsters, in response to the identical authorities.

Protests have erupted the world over, in assist of each Israel and Gaza, with tensions typically spilling over.

“Israel expects the Russian legal authorities to safeguard the well-being of all Israeli citizens and Jews wherever they are and to take strong action against the rioters and against the wild incitement being directed against Jews and Israelis,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s workplace and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a joint assertion.

“Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alex Ben Zvi is working with the Russian authorities to secure the well-being of Jews and Israelis at the site,” it added.

The US additionally known as on Russia to guard Israelis and Jews.

“The United States vigorously condemns the antisemitic protests in Dagestan, Russia,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson wrote on social media.

“The US unequivocally stands with the entire Jewish community as we witness a worldwide surge in antisemitism. There is never any excuse or justification for antisemitism.”

In one other submit on social media, the US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Amb. Deborah E. Lipstadt, condemned the incident.

“We condemn the violent protests that have been reported in Russia threatening Israelis and Jews. We call on Russian authorities to ensure their safety,” Lipstadt stated.

Sergey Melikov, head of the Dagestan Republic, took to Telegram Sunday to denounce the incident, telling folks to not unfold false info or make hasty selections.

“By your poorly thought-out actions you only aggravate the situation, pleasing the scoundrels who want to exploit the desire to see justice and the impassioned attitude to other people’s grief and unity, which have always distinguished Dagestanis,” Melikov stated.

CNN has reached out to Red Wing Airlines for remark.

CNN’s Anna Chernova contributed reporting.