Israelis Detained at Moscow Airport
Russian authorities detained at least 40 Israeli citizens at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport after their arrival from Tel Aviv, according to official Israeli sources cited in the Times of Israel.
The outlet reported that the Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that the group was held before later being released following diplomatic intervention.
According to reports cited by Times of Israel, the Isreali citizens were detained on suspicion of having connections to Israel’s military aggression against Iran.
Russian security personnel reportedly told detainees that Iran is an ally of Moscow and that anyone who is an enemy of Iran is “our enemy as well.”
Conditions of Detention
The Times of Israel also cited a source cited by the Russian outlet Mediazona, which said that the detainees were interrogated for several hours under these suspicions.
According to the same source, detainees were asked to unlock their mobile phones. When they refused, they were instructed to turn the devices off.
The group reportedly included both Israeli nationals and individuals holding dual citizenship.
They were eventually released after signing documents stating the “inadmissibility of violating the law,” according to the report.
Diplomatic Intervention
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it intervened immediately after learning of the incident.
“Immediately upon learning of the incident, at the instruction of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, the Foreign Ministry acted both with the foreign ministry in Moscow and with the Russian embassy in Israel,” the ministry said.
“Following this intervention, the incident was resolved, and the Israelis’ entry was approved,” it added.
The ministry also said that Russian authorities were informed that the conduct was “completely unacceptable” and that Israel views the matter seriously.
The detentions come amid heightened geopolitical tensions linked to the war involving Iran, a key ally of Russia.
Hellbound and Down 