Israel-Gaza live updates: Israeli officials on reports of Russian airport protesters

Israeli officials released a statement Sunday following reports, including from The Associated Press, that hundreds of people stormed the Makhachkala main airport and landing field in southern Russia to protest the arrival of a flight from Tel Aviv. The AP cited Russian news agencies and social media.

"The State of Israel takes seriously attempts to harm Israeli citizens and Jews everywhere," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a joint statement Sunday.

"The Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Headquarters (NSH) are monitoring the development of events in southern Russia in the Dagestan province," it continued. "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."

"Israel's ambassador to Russia, Alex Ben-Zvi, is working with the authorities in Russia to ensure the safety of Israelis and Jews there," the joint statement read.

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Antisemitic mob storms Russian airport

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby shares his reaction after hundreds of people stormed an airport in Russia's Dagestan after a flight landed from Israel.

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The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency said, "The measures are in effect until the situation normalizes. Law enforcement agencies are working on the spot," adding that "the planes that were supposed to land in Makhachkala were redirected to alternate airfields."

In a statement, Sergei Melikov, the head of Dagestan, said the actions of the crowd were a gross violation of the law. "There is no courage in waiting in a crowd for unarmed people who have not done anything forbidden," Melikov said. "There is no determination to break into the airport territory. There is no honor in swearing at strangers, reaching into their pockets and trying to check their passport. There are no good intentions in attacking women with children who were undergoing treatment abroad."

"What happened at our airport is outrageous and should receive an appropriate assessment from law enforcement agencies! And this will definitely be done,” he added.

More than 20 people were injured at the Makhachkala airport, the Ministry of Health of Dagestan said early Monday local time. Two people of the 10 in hospitals were in serious condition, the Ministry said. More than 10 people received medical aid at the airport.

-ABC News' Bruno Nota, Natalia Shumskaia and Will Gretsky

President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Sunday about "developments in Gaza," and the president reiterated that Israel needed to defend itself "in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law," according to the White House.

The two also discussed efforts to locate and free hostages, including U.S. citizens, the White House added.

Biden also spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday, the White House said, and the two "committed to the significant acceleration and increase of assistance flowing into Gaza beginning today and then continuously."

The two leaders talked about "ensuring that Palestinians in Gaza are not displaced to Egypt or any other nation," the White House added.

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

Abood Okal, a 36-year-old American father trapped in Gaza with his wife and young son, told ABC News on Sunday about the difficulties getting drinking water and bread.

"And I think it is for many people here in Gaza. We are almost out of drinking water today," he said. "I think we have enough just to last us through the night and then tomorrow would be basically out."

Okal described them spending their days not only "trying to figure out our water situation," but also trying to secure bread, telling ABC News he was part of a group that spent six hours standing in lines in front of bakeries.

"We hit four different bakeries to buy bread and any type of bread, actually, and it was a total mayhem, just like we expected," he said. "And actually quite heartbreaking to see the amount of people lined up in front of the bakeries, hundreds and hundreds of people in front of each one."

Okal said they stood in line for hours to get one portion of bread -- "which is about 25 to 30 pieces of pita bread, an average sized pita bread," he said -- "which basically would be good enough for a day or two at most."

"I think Gaza has reached a point where it does not matter where you're from or how much money you have or who you know," he said. "Everyone is in the same boat in terms of the dire daily struggle to survive. And certainly our family is no exception to that."

-ABC News' Zoe Magee

Securing the release of the hostages being held in Gaza is still a priority as Israel expands its ground assault in the territory in an effort to defeat Hamas, the White House's national security adviser said Sunday.

"We are continuing to see if there are ways to make that happen. We are prepared to support humanitarian pauses so that hostages can get out safely. And we will keep working at that every day because the president has no higher priority than the safe return of American citizens and wants to support the return of citizens of other countries and Israelis, as well," Jake Sullivan told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz.

"Now, how exactly that happens ... I cannot predict that. All I can tell you is every effort is being undertaken right now to do that," Sullivan said.

But he noted "there are ongoing efforts which I can't get into detail on television, including regional partners, including the Israelis."

-ABC News' Tal Axelrod

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US is ‘prepared to support humanitarian pauses’ to free hostages: Jake Sullivan

ABC News’ Martha Raddatz interviews National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on “This Week.”

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