Forty Israeli citizens were detained at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport after arriving on a flight from Tel Aviv.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the incident on April 20, 2026. Russian security forces questioned the group on suspicion of involvement in Israel’s war against Iran.
The travelers included people with dual Israeli-Russian citizenship and others holding only Israeli passports. They were stopped during passport control. According to the independent Russian news outlet Mediazone, the detainees spent about five hours in custody. During that time they had no access to food, water or restrooms.
Russian officers informed the Israelis that Iran is a close ally of Russia. They stated that any enemy of Tehran is “our enemy as well.” Security forces ordered the group to unlock their phones for inspection.
When the Israelis refused, the officers instructed them to switch the devices off. The detainees were freed only after signing official documents that stressed the need to obey Russian law and warned against any violations.
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Ministry intervenes after report of detentions
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it learned of the situation and responded at once. Officials acted on direct instructions from Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. They contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow and the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv.
“Following this intervention, the incident was resolved, and the Israelis’ entry was approved,” the ministry said in a statement. “The Russians were made to understand that this conduct is completely unacceptable, and Israel views the incident with great seriousness.”
The same airport saw a similar case in 2019. Several Israelis were denied entry then because of a disagreement over a bilateral visa agreement. Those travelers were eventually allowed to continue their trip after further discussions.
The current detentions took place as Israel and the United States carry out military operations against Iran. The campaign began on February 28, 2026, with the aim of weakening Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
Also Read: Iran Rules Out Fresh Talks With US Over Ceasefire Breach
A fragile 10-day ceasefire between Iran and the United States is scheduled to end on Wednesday. Talks mediated by Pakistan are under way in an effort to reach a longer-term agreement.
Israeli Officials Responds
Russia has maintained close relations with Iran throughout the conflict. The two countries have cooperated on military matters for years. This connection has created complications for Israel on several fronts.
The detention of ordinary travelers at a major international airport underlines how these alliances can affect civilians who have no direct role in the fighting.
Israeli officials have not released the names of those detained or further personal details. The group was allowed to enter Russia after the diplomatic contacts. No injuries or physical harm were reported during the detention.
