A cruise liner carrying around 1,600 Israeli tourists was forced to reroute to Cyprus after being prevented from disembarking on the Greek island of Syros due to a protest against the Gaza war.
More than 300 demonstrators gathered at the quayside, displaying a banner reading 'Stop the Genocide' and waving Palestinian flags, citing safety concerns over Israel's conduct in Gaza. The protestors also criticised Greece's close economic, technological and military ties with Israel.
Some passengers on the Crown Iris responded by raising Israeli flags and chanting patriotic slogans. Mano Maritime, the Israeli shipping firm operating the vessel, confirmed the incident, stating that passengers were stuck on board without permission to disembark.
Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, contacted his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, over the incident, though no details of their conversation were released. The protest concluded without injuries or arrests.
The episode highlights growing unease in Greece over Israel's actions in Gaza, with anti-Israeli graffiti and pro-Palestinian signage becoming more common across the country, despite Greece's popularity as a destination for Israeli tourists in recent years.
