Greeks deny Israeli cruise ship permission

A cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists was unable to dock at the Greek island of Syros due to security concerns following a coastal protest over the Gaza War and was diverted to Cyprus.

Approximately 1,600 Israeli passengers aboard the Crown Iris cruise ship were denied access to the island due to more than 300 protesters. The protesters, protesting Israel 's war in Gaza and its treatment of Palestinians, made it clear that the passengers were not welcome on the island. The protesters unfurled a large banner reading "Stop the Genocide" and carried Palestinian flags.

The protesters' written statement also criticized Greece 's growing economic, technological, and military ties with Israel. The statement included the following statements:

“As residents of Syros, but above all as human beings, we are taking action to contribute to ending this genocidal war in our neighborhood.”

Some passengers reportedly reacted by waving Israeli flags and chanting pro-Israeli slogans during the incident.

Israeli shipping company Mano Maritime, which operates the ship, confirmed the incident and released the following statement:

The ship reached Syros but was met with a pro-Palestinian protest. Passengers were not allowed to disembark and were stranded on the ship.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar contacted his Greek counterpart , George Gerapetritis, following the incident. The Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed the contact but did not elaborate on the content of the conversation.

In recent years, Greece has become a popular destination for Israeli tourists, and political and economic relations between the two countries have also grown closer. However, the incident has also highlighted growing discontent in Greece regarding Israel's actions in Gaza. Anti-Israel graffiti has become widespread in the country, and signs and phrases supporting Palestine are also frequently seen.