Greek Police Arrest Man Over Suspected Cruise Ship Plot

Greek authorities have detained a Palestinian man suspected of having ties to Hamas and being involved in an alleged plan that may have targeted an Israeli cruise ship operating in the Mediterranean.

The 37-year-old was arrested on the island of Crete following a surveillance operation carried out by Greece’s intelligence services. Local media reports said the suspect had been living and working at a hotel on the island after arriving from Gaza about a year ago.

Although police have not officially named a target, multiple media reports suggest investigators believe the Israeli-owned cruise ship Crown Iris may have been one of the locations under consideration.

Authorities said the alleged scheme was still in the preliminary planning phase and had not progressed to an operational stage. Investigators indicated that the suspect had not yet obtained all of the materials needed to carry out an attack, though some items had reportedly been ordered before the arrest.

Raids carried out in Crete and Athens resulted in the seizure of mobile phones, a laptop, external storage devices and bank cards. Greek state broadcaster ERT reported that officers also found laboratory equipment and chemicals that could potentially be used to manufacture explosive devices.

Police are also examining allegations that the suspect traveled abroad to receive specialized training. Greek authorities claim he had links to Hamas and connections to a group of four Palestinians who were recently arrested in Cyprus on terrorism-related charges. According to reports in Israeli media, investigators believe the man traveled to Malaysia, where he allegedly underwent further explosives training. Authorities are also looking into whether Israeli interests or locations elsewhere in Europe may have been considered as potential targets.

The Crown Iris, operated by Israeli cruise company Mano Maritime, is due to call at Crete this week. The vessel has previously been affected by regional tensions. In 2025, pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the Greek island of Syros prevented passengers from disembarking, forcing the ship to modify its itinerary.

Greek police said the suspect is expected to appear before a magistrate while investigators continue to assess the scope of the alleged plot and any possible links to wider networks operating in the region.