Protesters Force Israeli Cruise Ship to Bypass Syros Port

On July 22, the Israeli-owned cruise ship Crown Iris was denied entry to the Greek island of Syros after being met with a protest by demonstrators waving Palestinian flags. Due to the prolonged demonstration, the ship was unable to dock and ultimately skipped the port.

The Crown Iris was carrying approximately 1,600 passengers, including between 300 and 400 children. As the ship approached the Syros quay, it encountered a crowd of protesters who blocked access roads, held up Palestinian flags, and scattered flyers along the path to the ship.

Some guests reportedly attempted to leave the ship but were met with hostility, including instances of water being thrown at them, which left passengers unable to disembark and confined to the vessel.

Police arrived at the scene after roughly two hours. Mano Cruises, the operator of Crown Iris, decided to prioritize the safety of its guests and chose to forgo the scheduled stop, continuing on to Limassol, Cyprus.

Israeli authorities expressed concern over the incident, with the country’s foreign minister reaching out to the Greek government to request stronger protective measures for Israeli tourists visiting Greece.