Police take control of Russia’s Dagestan airport after anti-Israeli protests

Russian police have taken control of an airport in the Dagestan region and arrested 60 people after a group of anti-Israel protesters stormed the facility. The incident occurred when a plane from Israel arrived at the airport in Makhachkala, the regional capital. Videos from the scene showed protesters waving Palestinian flags, breaking glass doors, and running through the airport while shouting “Allahu Akbar.” Another group was seen attempting to overturn a patrol truck. Local authorities reported that 20 people were injured before security forces were able to contain the situation. The passengers on the plane were unharmed. This unrest is part of a series of anti-Israel incidents in Russia’s North Caucasus region in response to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The Dagestani government has announced increased security measures across the republic. The situation poses a challenge for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently dealing with the conflict in Ukraine and aims to maintain stability ahead of an upcoming presidential election. The Russian Aviation Authority has temporarily closed the airport for flights while security checks are conducted. The interior ministry has identified 150 of the most active protesters and is working to locate all individuals involved. The ministry confirmed that the airport is now fully under the control of law enforcement agencies. Regional leaders and the chief Muslim cleric of Dagestan have called for calm, while Israel has urged Russian authorities to protect Israelis and Jews in the region. In recent days, a Jewish center under construction in Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, was set on fire. There have also been reports of small anti-Israeli gatherings in Dagestan and the North Caucasus, although these reports have not been independently verified. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attributed the events to Russia’s culture of hatred towards other nations, but there has been no response from the Kremlin. Russia, which supports a two-state solution and calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, has attempted to maintain contact with all parties involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, their invitation of a Hamas delegation to Moscow has angered Israeli authorities, leading to the summoning of the Russian ambassador.