Fresh protest against Gaza war erupts in Greece over arrival of Israeli cruise ship

Fresh demonstrations against Israel's military offensive in Gaza erupted in Greece on Wednesday, with protesters clashing with police as an Israeli cruise ship docked in the port city of Volos.

There have been several protests at various Greek ports in recent weeks against the Crown Iris cruise ship, which is operated by Israeli shipping giant Mano Maritime and is currently touring around Greece.

Local communities unfurled huge Palestinian flags and chanted pro-Palestine slogans as Israeli tourists disembarked from the cruise ship.

In the coastal city of Volos, located some 330 kilometres north of Athens, demonstrators protesting the arrival of the Crown Iris were dispersed by riot police using stun grenades.

The Israeli tourists were still able to disembark the ship and board buses for tours of nearby Mount Pilio and the Meteora monastery complex in Thessaly, local media reported. Meanwhile, the protesters left the port and continued their pro-Palestine march through the main streets of the city.

Last month, the Crown Iris left the Greek island of Syros early without its passengers disembarking after more than 150 protesters demonstrated at the island's port.

"It is unacceptable that tourists from Israel continue to be welcomed here while the Palestinians are suffering in the [Gaza] Strip," the protesters said on social media.

However, some Greeks have denounced the protests, including the country's Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis.

"We owe an apology to these friends of Greece who chose to spend their holidays here and were forcibly denied it by some," he wrote on X last month following the incident in Syros. "Our country remains hospitable to all and antisemitism has no place here!"

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar contacted his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, over the Syros incident. Israel has reportedly stressed to Greece that the protests against the Crown Iris could end up harming Israeli tourism in the country.

Greece is a popular tourist destination for Israelis on package tours and travelling independently, particularly in the summer months, and there are several flights per day between Tel Aviv and Athens, as well as from Israeli airports directly to Greek islands.