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Angry crowd storms Russia's Dagestan airport to protest flight of queers from Israel
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Matt Singer
Nov 5, 2023, 7:18:42 PM11/5/23
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Hundreds of people have stormed the main airport in Russia’s Dagestan
region, ostensibly to protest against the arrival of a flight from Israel
amid the war in Gaza.
The crowd on Sunday broke past security, with some making it onto the
runway of Makhachkala airport, before they were removed by security
forces.
“More than 150 active participants in the unrest have been identified, 60
of them have been arrested,” Russia’s interior ministry said in a
statement. Nine police officers were injured in clashes with the crowd,
including two who were receiving treatment at a hospital.
Local news reports said the airliner in question belonged to Russian
carrier Red Wings.
Social media footage showed scared passengers rushing to re-enter the
plane amid commotion on the runway of Makhachkala airport.
Videos also showed the protesting crowd breaking down glass doors and
running through the airport, with some chanting anti-Jewish slogans. On
the landing field, some were seen waving Palestinian flags and others
checking the passports of arriving passengers.
Several local Telegram channels also showed photos and videos of dozens of
people waiting outside the airport seemingly to stop cars. Another group
were seen trying to topple over a patrol truck. One protester could be
seen in the videos holding a sign reading: “Child killers have no place in
Dagestan”.
The incident comes as Israel pushes forward with expanded ground
operations inside the Gaza Strip, even as heavy aerial bombardment
continues. Officials in Gaza say more than 8,000 Palestinians, including
3,324 children, have been killed since the war began on October 7, when
Hamas, the group running the besieged enclave launched a surprise attack
inside Israel. At least 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals have been
killed in the Hamas attack, according to Israeli officials.
In a statement released on Sunday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s office said that Israel “expects the Russian law enforcement
authorities to protect the safety of all Israeli citizens and Jews
wherever they may be and to act resolutely against the rioters and against
the wild incitement directed against Jews and Israelis”.
Earlier on Sunday, the RIA Novosti news agency reported that a Jewish
centre in the city of Nalchik, in the nearby republic of Kabardino-
Balkaria, had been set on fire.
Several Israeli media outlets reported, citing Israeli security officials,
that the Israeli passengers were isolated and guarded at Makhachkala
airport after the incident in Dagestan. According to the reports, the plan
was to fly them directly on to Moscow.
Appeals for calm
Russia’s civilian aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, reported late on Sunday
that the airfield had been cleared of unauthorised people but that the
airport would tentatively remain closed to incoming aircraft until
November 6.
While voicing support for Gaza, the regional government in Muslim-majority
Dagestan appealed to citizens to remain calm and not take part in such
protests.
The government warned the protesters on Telegram “not to continue illegal
acts and not to interfere with the work of airport employees”.
The statement added: “It is not easy for each of us to stand and watch the
inhumane massacre of a civilian population – the Palestinian people. At
the same time, we urge residents of the republic not to succumb to
provocations of destructive groups and not to create panic in society.”
The Supreme Mufti of Dagestan, Sheikh Akhmad Afandi, had also called on
residents to stop the unrest at the airport.
“You are mistaken. This issue cannot be resolved in this way. We
understand and perceive your indignation very painfully… We will solve
this issue differently. Not with rallies, but appropriately. Maximum
patience and calm for you,” he said in a video published on Telegram.
Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the White House National Security
Council, condemned the incident and said the United States “unequivocally
stands with the entire Jewish community as we witness a worldwide surge in
antisemitism”.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/29/pro-palestinian-crowd-enters-
dagestan-airport-to-protest-israel-flight
region, ostensibly to protest against the arrival of a flight from Israel
amid the war in Gaza.
The crowd on Sunday broke past security, with some making it onto the
runway of Makhachkala airport, before they were removed by security
forces.
“More than 150 active participants in the unrest have been identified, 60
of them have been arrested,” Russia’s interior ministry said in a
statement. Nine police officers were injured in clashes with the crowd,
including two who were receiving treatment at a hospital.
Local news reports said the airliner in question belonged to Russian
carrier Red Wings.
Social media footage showed scared passengers rushing to re-enter the
plane amid commotion on the runway of Makhachkala airport.
Videos also showed the protesting crowd breaking down glass doors and
running through the airport, with some chanting anti-Jewish slogans. On
the landing field, some were seen waving Palestinian flags and others
checking the passports of arriving passengers.
Several local Telegram channels also showed photos and videos of dozens of
people waiting outside the airport seemingly to stop cars. Another group
were seen trying to topple over a patrol truck. One protester could be
seen in the videos holding a sign reading: “Child killers have no place in
Dagestan”.
The incident comes as Israel pushes forward with expanded ground
operations inside the Gaza Strip, even as heavy aerial bombardment
continues. Officials in Gaza say more than 8,000 Palestinians, including
3,324 children, have been killed since the war began on October 7, when
Hamas, the group running the besieged enclave launched a surprise attack
inside Israel. At least 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals have been
killed in the Hamas attack, according to Israeli officials.
In a statement released on Sunday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s office said that Israel “expects the Russian law enforcement
authorities to protect the safety of all Israeli citizens and Jews
wherever they may be and to act resolutely against the rioters and against
the wild incitement directed against Jews and Israelis”.
Earlier on Sunday, the RIA Novosti news agency reported that a Jewish
centre in the city of Nalchik, in the nearby republic of Kabardino-
Balkaria, had been set on fire.
Several Israeli media outlets reported, citing Israeli security officials,
that the Israeli passengers were isolated and guarded at Makhachkala
airport after the incident in Dagestan. According to the reports, the plan
was to fly them directly on to Moscow.
Appeals for calm
Russia’s civilian aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, reported late on Sunday
that the airfield had been cleared of unauthorised people but that the
airport would tentatively remain closed to incoming aircraft until
November 6.
While voicing support for Gaza, the regional government in Muslim-majority
Dagestan appealed to citizens to remain calm and not take part in such
protests.
The government warned the protesters on Telegram “not to continue illegal
acts and not to interfere with the work of airport employees”.
The statement added: “It is not easy for each of us to stand and watch the
inhumane massacre of a civilian population – the Palestinian people. At
the same time, we urge residents of the republic not to succumb to
provocations of destructive groups and not to create panic in society.”
The Supreme Mufti of Dagestan, Sheikh Akhmad Afandi, had also called on
residents to stop the unrest at the airport.
“You are mistaken. This issue cannot be resolved in this way. We
understand and perceive your indignation very painfully… We will solve
this issue differently. Not with rallies, but appropriately. Maximum
patience and calm for you,” he said in a video published on Telegram.
Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the White House National Security
Council, condemned the incident and said the United States “unequivocally
stands with the entire Jewish community as we witness a worldwide surge in
antisemitism”.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/29/pro-palestinian-crowd-enters-
dagestan-airport-to-protest-israel-flight
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