Protesters in Greece Voice Discontent Once More Against Israeli Visitors - Demonstrators in Greece voice disapproval towards the presence of Israeli tourists
In the heart of Greece, the port city of Volos has been the centre of a contentious issue, as protests against Israeli tourists, particularly those arriving on the Crown Iris cruise ship, have been ongoing. The ship, an Israeli-owned vessel operated by Mano Maritime, has faced repeated demonstrations at multiple Greek ports since late July 2025.
The protests are a form of opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza. Demonstrators see the presence of Israeli tourists as symbolically supporting or normalizing what they view as aggression against Palestinians, especially amid the recent Gaza War. These protests are motivated by solidarity with the Palestinian people and a desire to make Greece a site of visible resistance rather than a holiday destination for Israelis amid the conflict.
In Volos, hundreds of protesters gathered to demonstrate against the arrival of the Crown Iris. Two separate groups of protesters blocked both port exits, aiming to prevent tourists from entering the city centre and to halt buses bound for tourist destinations. The demonstrations turned violent, with clashes occurring between protesters and riot police who deployed stun grenades on multiple occasions.
Protesters in Volos accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip and demanded a Palestinian state. They waved large Palestinian flags, chanted pro-Palestine slogans, and at times physically blocked the disembarkation of Israeli passengers. In a similar incident at the Greek island of Syros, a large protest forced the ship to leave without passengers going ashore.
The protests have drawn a strong reaction from Greek authorities, emphasizing democracy, but also from Israeli officials, concerned about the diplomatic and tourism impacts. In 2024 alone, over 600,000 Israelis visited Greece. The rising protests reflect a broader increase in anti-Zionist and sometimes antisemitic incidents in Greece following the October 7th, 2024 Hamas attack and subsequent Israeli military responses.
Critics argue that the protests are senseless and damaging to Greece's reputation. They contend that not all Israeli citizens support Israel's actions in the Gaza conflict. As the Crown Iris is scheduled to dock in Piraeus on Thursday morning, a larger demonstration is expected, organized by leftist organizations, unions, and the Greek Communist Party (KKE).
As of the report, there were no initial reports of injuries. The protesters' core message is that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are responsible for civilian casualties and suffering in Gaza, and thus they reject the normalization of Israeli tourism in Greece. The demonstrations highlight the polarizing nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even reaching the shores of Greece.
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