A flight traveling from Tel Aviv to Russia’s Dagestan Republic had to change its course on Sunday due to an incident at Makhachkala Uytash Airport.
Reportedly, individuals supporting Hamas stormed the airport, seemingly with the intention of confronting Israeli travelers.
A large crowd, consisting of hundreds of people, overtook the airport, situated in the capital of the predominantly Muslim region in southern Russia.
Video footage captured the rioters carrying Palestinian flags and chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) as they combed through the terminals in search of Israeli passengers.
Additional videos showed Muslim protesters stopping vehicles in the vicinity to inquire whether they were transporting tourists from Israel, the JC reported.
“We came for the Jews—to kill them with a knife and shoot them,” a rioter was quoted as saying.
According to Israeli officials, “A limited number of Israelis and Jews are currently isolated and under guard at the airport.”
“We are working on having them depart on a connection flight to Moscow once conditions allow it,”
“Israeli security officials and the Israeli ambassador are working with the local security authorities.”
The Tel Aviv-bound plane was rerouted to a nearby airport, but another crowd began to assemble there, as reported by Israel’s Channel 12.
In response, the flight crew took the precaution of securing the aircraft doors, while Russian security forces designated the tarmac as a restricted area.
Written by staff
B.C. Begley 