A flight from Israel to Dagestan (Russia) was diverted from its intended destination in the capital of Makhachkala after pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the airport seeking to attack Israeli arrivals, a media agency reported. Most of the protestors were Palestinian expats.
The Incident
The flight landed at an alternate airport, However, the passengers face riots over there as well. The passengers were asked to remain in the plane and riot police were called to the site to protect the passengers. The visuals from the site showed a mob rampaging through the airport terminals after leaning the arrival of thr incoming flight.
Reaction from Israeli Authorities
Israel’s Prime Minister Office and Foreign ministry said that they are following the events in Dagestan. The PM Office and Foreign Ministry said they Russian law enforcement to maintain the safety of all Israeli citizens and Jews to act with determination against rioters and the wild incitement against Jews and Israelis, the media agency reported.
They said Israel’s takes a grave view of attempts to harm Israeli citizens and Jews anywhere. Meanwhile, the Israeli ambassador to Russia Alex Ben Zvi is working to ensure the safety of flight passengers according to the media agency.
Reaction by Volodymyr Zelensky
Reacting to the incident of Dagestan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was appalled at the scenes. He called the incident a part of Russia’s “widespread culture of hatred towards other nations.”
Taking to X, Zelensky stated “Appalling videos from Makhachkala, Russia, where an angry mob broke into the airport searching for Jews in the airport complex from Tel-Aviv (capital of Israel). “This is not a widespread incident in Makhachkala, but rather part of Russia’s widespread culture of hatred towards other nations which is propagated by state televisions, Pundits and authorities,” he said.
He further said “The Russian Foreign Minister has made a series of anti-Semitic remarks in the last year. The Russian President also used anti-Semitic slurs. For the Russian propaganda talking heads on official television, hate rhetoric is routine.
Even the most recent Middle East escalation prompted anti-Semitism from Russian ideologists and hatred towards other nations are systemic and deep rooted. Hatred is what drives aggression and terror. We must all work together to oppose hatred.
Protests Abroad
On October 29, 2023, pro-Palestinian protestors held a demonstration in London, Berlin, and Rome to call for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. At least 7000 pro-Palestinian protestors held a march over the Brooklyn Bridge in the US New York, an American media agency said. The protestors holding banners, Palestinian flags and signs raised slogans like Stop Killing Children, Freedom for Palestine, and Stop Bombing Gaza as per media agency.
One of the protestors in London said: “My fear is that there will be no more Palestine. At the moment, it is not free Palestine, it is saving Palestine. That is my fear that they would be wiped out of existence, a media agency reported. During the march through the borough, the protestors openly cheered for Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, on October 7, 2023, the American media reported.
