Russian authorities closed Makhachkala airport in the northern Caucasus region and diverted flights, including one from Israel, after demonstrators protesting Israeli actions in Gaza gathered at the facility. The Russian aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, stated that security forces removed the group from the airport and the facility would remain closed until the situation normalized. The incident prompted a criminal probe by Russia’s Investigative Committee. Israel called on Russian authorities to protect Israelis and Jews within their jurisdiction in response to the reports.

The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem issued a statement expressing concern over attempts to harm Israeli citizens and Jews anywhere and confirmed that the Israeli ambassador in Moscow was working with Russian authorities. Videos posted by Kavkaz-Realii, a division of U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, showed crowds waving Palestinian flags in and around the terminal building in Makhachkala. Other Russian media reported that one group attempted to approach the aircraft, but the passengers remained safely on board. It is unclear whether the passengers were eventually able to disembark.

According to the FlightRadar24 flight tracking website, the identification number on the tail of the plane indicated that it had arrived from Israel. Regional leaders in Dagestan and two other areas of the northern Caucasus called for calm, along with Dagestan’s chief mufti. The article was written by Dan Williams in Jerusalem, with additional writing by Ron Popeski. The editing was done by Hugh Lawson and Lisa Shumaker. The article adheres to the Thomson RushHourDaily Trust Principles.