Protests against the Gaza war prevented Israeli tourists from disembarking on the Greek island of Syros, prompting the cruise ship to leave without its passengers. Over 150 protesters gathered at the port, unfurling Palestinian flags and calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza.
The protesters, who displayed banners reading “Stop the Genocide” and “No a/c in hell”, chanted slogans on the dock near where the Crown Iris was docked. The incident occurred despite no reports of violence.
The cruise ship, operated by Israeli company Mano Cruise, had initially set sail for Cyprus but changed its course after the protests. According to the Greek coast guard, the ship departed at 3 p.m., earlier than scheduled, and is now sailing to another destination with all passengers and crew members on board.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar contacted his Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis regarding the incident, but details of their discussion were not released.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/greece-israel-gaza-protest-syros-cruise-ship-69735c4ab6a7d19752d304c92ffc03fc