CNN –
An angry crowd in Russia’s predominantly Muslim Dagestan region stormed an airport where a plane from Israel was landing on Sunday, forcing authorities to close the facility and divert flights.
Several videos posted on social media showed a crowd of people inside Makhachkala Uytash Airport (MCX) and on the runway, some waving the Palestinian flag and others forcibly forcing their way through locked doors in the international terminal.
Photos and videos confirmed by CNN showed the crowd outside the airport carrying anti-Semitic signs with slogans such as “We are against Jewish refugees” and “There is no place for child murderers in Dagestan.”
At least 10 people were injured in clashes, including two people in critical condition, according to a statement from Dagestan’s health ministry late Sunday.
The airport was temporarily closed and flights were diverted, according to a statement from Russia’s Federal Aviation Administration, saying that “unknown persons” had broken into the facility.
According to Flight Aware, the Red Wing Airlines flight from Tel Aviv landed at 7:17 p.m. local time on Sunday and was quickly surrounded by protesters upon landing.
From Telegram
A crowd gathers at Makhachkala Uytash Airport (MCX) in Dagestan, southern Russia, on October 29.
In one video, a pilot turns to his plane’s loudspeaker and says, “It’s not safe to open the doors” because “there are protesters underneath our plane.”
According to Russian state media TASS, “those gathered reject the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”
The incident is the latest to highlight the enormous global tensions and divisions in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, sparked by a coordinated attack by the militant group on October 7 that killed about 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and more than 200 people were kidnapped.
Israel’s retaliation was relentless, Gaza was besieged and heavily bombed, heightening tensions far beyond the Middle East.
About 8,000 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah said on Sunday, based on data from sources in the Hamas-controlled enclave. According to the same authorities, around 3,000 of those killed were children.
From Telegram
On October 29, crowds stormed the runway of Makhachkala Uytash Airport (MCX).
Protests in support of Israel and Gaza have erupted around the world, with tensions often spilling over.
“Israel expects the Russian judicial authorities to protect the well-being of all Israeli citizens and Jews, wherever they are, and to take strong measures against the rioters and against the rampant incitement against Jews and Israelis,” Israel’s office said The Foreign Ministry announced this in a joint statement.
“Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alex Ben Zvi is working with Russian authorities to ensure the well-being of Jews and Israelis on the ground,” it said.
The US also called on Russia to protect Israelis and Jews.
“The United States strongly condemns the anti-Semitic protests in Dagestan, Russia,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson wrote on social media.
“The United States stands unequivocally with the entire Jewish community as we witness a global rise in anti-Semitism. There is never an excuse or justification for anti-Semitism.”
In another post on social media, US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Ambassador, made the comments. Deborah E. Lipstadt condemned the incident.
“We condemn the violent protests reported in Russia as threatening Israelis and Jews. We call on the Russian authorities to ensure their safety,” Lipstadt said.
Sergey Melikov, head of the Republic of Dagestan, condemned the incident on Telegram on Sunday and urged people not to spread false information and not make hasty decisions.
“By your ill-thought-out actions, you only worsen the situation and please the villains who want to exploit the desire for justice and the passionate attitude towards the grief and unity of other people that have always distinguished Dagestanis,” Melikov said.
CNN has reached out to Red Wing Airlines for comment.