Israeli cruise ship blocked by pro-Palestinian protest at Greek dock, forcing reroute

Pro-Palestine protest in Syros, Greece, outside an Israeli cruise ship set to dock, July 2025

Rachel Fink reports in Haaretz on 22 July 2025:

A pro-Palestinian protest on the Greek island of Syros disrupted an Israeli cruise on Tuesday, leaving some 1,600 passengers, most of them Israeli, stranded on board for hours before the ship was ultimately rerouted to Limassol, Cyprus.

The vessel, operated by Israeli cruise company Mano Maritime, was making a routine stop at Syros when it was met by around 200 anti-Israel protesters who waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza.

While some passengers initially began disembarking and boarding tour buses, the process was suddenly halted. “They brought back those who had already disembarked,” a woman who gave her name as Daniela told Ynet, adding, “Everyone is in good spirits.”

Itzik from Haifa told Ynet that Greek police had blocked disembarkation altogether and sent armed officers to the area. “There’s no direct contact between the protesters and the passengers,” he reported, “but some people are worried.”

A number of passengers appeared to stage a counter-protest from the deck, waving Israeli flags and chanting. Some of the chants were patriotic, including “Am Yisrael Chai” (“The people of Israel live”), while others took on a more provocative tone.  In one video circulating on social media, a group of Israeli passengers can be heard singing “May your village burn,” a chant associated with far-right extremists. In another clip, passengers are heard shouting “Death to Arabs.”

According to Israeli news outlet Ynet, at least some of the protesters anticipated the ship’s arrival, knowing exactly when to meet it on the dock.

The demonstration was organized by the ENEDEP container trade union and included members of Greece’s Communist Party and anarchist groups, according to Israeli newspaper Yisrael Hayom.  Union chairman Markos Bekris declared they would “refuse to unload any cargo linked to military operations,” adding, “We won’t allow the port to become a logistical hub for the transport of weapons.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar reportedly contacted his Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis to intervene, while the Israeli embassy in Athens worked with local authorities to ensure the passengers’ safety.  Though Greek police maintained that the protest was nonviolent and security was under control, the ship’s crew opted not to take chances. According to Ynet, the decision to prevent disembarkation was made by the Israeli crew, not the Greek authorities.

Mano Maritime said in a statement that “The ship arrived at Syros, encountered a demonstration by pro-Palestinian supporters, and passengers were stuck on board without permission to disembark.”

Israeli officials have since emphasized the potential damage such incidents pose to Israeli tourism in Greece, calling on local authorities to take stronger action to protect visiting citizens.

The protest follows similar incidents at Greek ports. Just a week prior, activists attempted to block the unloading of a ship in Piraeus reportedly carrying military equipment bound for Israel.

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