Russian authorities detain dozens of Israeli citizens at Moscow airport, invoking Iran war in interrogations

Russian security forces detained at least 40 Israeli nationals at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport on April 19 after their arrival on a flight from Tel Aviv, Mediazona has reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

The reasons for the detentions remain unclear. Among those held were both dual Russian-Israeli citizens and Israeli nationals without Russian passports.

The detainees were held for approximately five hours without access to water, food, or bathroom facilities. According to Mediazona's source, officers aggressively demanded that they unlock their phones, and when refused, asked that the devices be switched off entirely.

Each person was taken in for individual questioning. Officers accused several of them of waging war against Iran, the source said, telling detainees that Iran is Russia's ally and that "an enemy of Iran is our enemy too." The Israelis were told they were "not welcome" and should not have come.

Following the interrogations, detainees were required to sign documents described as "warnings”, which Mediazona speculates were likely standard notices regarding the obligation to comply with Russian law. All were subsequently released.