Anti-war demonstration forces Israeli cruise ship to divert to Cyprus

A cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists was forced to reroute to Cyprus after being turned away by the Greek island of Syros amid protests linked to the war in Gaza.

Approximately 1,600 Israeli passengers aboard the Crown Iris were not allowed to disembark due to security concerns, as more than 300 protesters on the Cycladic Island declared their presence unacceptable because of Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war and its treatment of Palestinians.

A large banner reading “Stop the Genocide” was raised alongside Palestinian flags.

In a statement, the protesters also condemned Greece’s growing “economic, technological, and military” ties with Israel.

“As residents of Syros—and above all as human beings—we are taking action in hopes of helping to stop the destruction caused by this genocidal war taking place in our neighborhood,” the statement read.

According to eyewitnesses, some passengers aboard the ship responded by waving Israeli flags and chanting slogans.

The Israeli shipping company Mano Maritime, which operates the vessel, confirmed the incident, stating: “The ship arrived at the island of Syros but was met with demonstrations by pro-Palestinian activists. Passengers were not permitted to disembark and remained stranded on board.”