A cruise ship, the Crown Iris, carrying approximately 1,600 Israeli tourists was diverted to Cyprus after being denied entry to the Greek island of Syros due to a protest against the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The planned disembarkation of passengers was cancelled due to safety concerns raised by a demonstration of over 300 individuals on Syros. The protesters voiced their opposition to Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war and its treatment of Palestinians, making it clear the tourists were not welcome.
The demonstrators displayed a large banner reading “Stop the Genocide,” accompanied by Palestinian flags.
The protest organizers released a statement expressing concern over Greece’s growing “economic, technological and military” cooperation with Israel. The statement read, “As residents of Syros but more so as human beings, we are taking action that we hope will contribute to stopping this destruction from the genocidal war that is taking place in our neighbourhood.”
According to eyewitness accounts, some passengers on the Crown Iris responded to the demonstration by displaying Israeli flags and chanting patriotic slogans.
Mano Maritime, the Israeli shipping company operating the cruise, confirmed the incident, stating: “The ship arrived at Syros, encountered a demonstration by pro-Palestinian supporters, and passengers were stuck on board without permission to disembark.”
The Greek Foreign Ministry acknowledged that Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, contacted his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, regarding the situation, but provided no details about their conversation.
Greece has seen a rise in popularity among Israeli tourists in recent years, reflecting strengthened relations between the two Mediterranean countries.
While the protest concluded without injuries or arrests, the event underscores growing unease within Greece regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza. The country has witnessed an increase in anti-Israeli graffiti and pro-Palestinian signage.
