ATHENS — Demonstrations are building around Greece against Israeli tourists amid swelling anger over the ongoing war in Gaza.
Local police clashed Tuesday with protesters who were trying to prevent about 1,500 Israeli tourists from disembarking from a cruise ship at the port of Agios Nikolaos on Crete.
Greek authorities have suggested that the repeated rallies have crossed the line from anti-war protests to something attacking Israelis more broadly, and signaled there was a racist element to the demonstrations.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar contacted his Greek counterpart, Giorgos Gerapetritis, regarding one recent incident, and the Athens government pledged to adopt a harsher stance and use anti-racist legislation to crack down on protesters.
“Anyone who attempts to prevent a third-country national from entering the country legally will be prosecuted, arrested and subsequently subject to criminal proceedings under anti-racism legislation,” Minister for Public Order Michalis Chrisochoidis said last week.
On Tuesday afternoon, demonstrators unfurled a huge Palestinian flag and shouted, “Free, free Palestine” as tourists disembarked the Crown Iris from Israel for bus tours of the island.
According to local media reports, scuffles broke out between riot police and protesters. Police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd and detained four people.
This is the third similar incident in a week. On Monday, a fracas took place when another cruise ship carrying 600 Israelis docked in Rhodes. Organizers said 13 people were detained during the demonstration.
Last Tuesday, the Crown Iris docked at the island of Syros, but its passengers didn’t disembark after protesters demonstrated at the port. Some passengers reacted by waving Israeli flags and chanting against the demonstrators. The cruise ship eventually departed for Cyprus.
“Israeli visitors consistently choose Greece as a top holiday destination — for its beauty, culture and warm hospitality,” the Israeli ambassador to Greece posted on X last week. “They travel often, spend generously, strengthen local tourism and the bond between us. A true win-win partnership.”
In recent years, Greece has grown in popularity among Israeli tourists, reflecting growing closeness between the two nations.
Compared to some other European countries, there have generally been fewer pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Greece since Israel’s military campaign began in Gaza in October 2023. According to a survey by QED carried out in June, around 55 percent of Greeks believe the country should remain neutral regarding the conflict in Gaza, around 34 percent think it should be against Israel and around 11 percent in favor of Israel.
However, protests have become more frequent in recent days.
On July 16, dockworkers and activists in Piraeus attempted to stop the unloading of steel intended for military use in Israel. The dockworkers’ union said they would not allow the port to be used for military operations.
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