The Greek summer, usually marked by sun-drenched islands and bustling ports, has taken on a sharply political tone this year as anti-Israel protests have swept through the country, targeting the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris and its passengers. On August 14, 2025, the tension reached a new peak at the port of Piraeus near Athens, where riot police cordoned off the area around the Crown Iris to prevent several hundred protesters from approaching the vessel, according to the Associated Press.
The demonstration at Piraeus was far from an isolated incident. Over the past several weeks, similar protests have erupted at Greek islands and mainland ports along the route of the Crown Iris. In some cases, these protests have turned confrontational, leading to clashes with riot police. The demonstrators, many of whom were union-backed and organized by groups such as the All-Workers Militant Front, held flares, waved Palestinian flags, and chanted slogans in solidarity with Palestine. One protest organizer, Markos Bekris, made his stance clear: “They are unwanted here and have no business being here. The blood of innocent people is on their hands and we should not welcome them.”
According to Marine Insight, the largest rally in the port city of Volos began in the morning near the city’s KTEL bus terminal. Protestors marched through central streets under heavy police presence, culminating in another gathering at the commercial port gate. Police blocked access points to the port and escorted buses transporting Crown Iris passengers directly to various destinations, including mountain villages, archaeological sites, and Meteora, in an effort to minimize contact between tourists and demonstrators. Riot police even resorted to stun grenades and pushback when protestors attempted to breach the police cordons—tensions ran high, but the authorities managed to keep the groups apart.
The protests are a direct response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which has drawn global attention for the widespread destruction and severe food shortages in the region. Unions in Greece and other European Union countries have become increasingly outspoken in their condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza. The European Trade Union Confederation recently called for the EU to suspend its trade-focused association agreement with Israel—a move that would impact Israeli exports worth 15.9 billion euros ($18.5 billion) in 2024, as reported by the Associated Press. Meanwhile, Belgium’s largest trade union has encouraged workers at Brussels airport to refuse to handle flights to Tel Aviv, stating, “Members and workers who refuse to participate in normalizing our relations with the State of Israel will be fully supported by our organization. We call on everyone to refuse to handle these flights.”
French officials, for their part, have reportedly halted the renewal of work visas for some staff at Israeli airline El Al in France, in what appears to be a dispute over security checks. These moves reflect a broader trend across Europe, where governments and unions are taking increasingly critical stances toward Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
But the Greek protests have a distinct local flavor. Greece is a popular holiday destination for Israelis, and the Crown Iris’s regular stops at idyllic islands like Syros, Rhodes, and Crete have become flashpoints for activism. Last month, the Crown Iris left Syros early after more than 150 protesters demonstrated at the port, preventing passengers from disembarking. Similar scenes have played out in Rhodes and Crete, with activists blocking the ship and clashing with police, as detailed by Marine Insight and the Associated Press.
The political fallout in Greece has been significant. Left-wing opposition parties have seized on the unrest, calling on the conservative government to halt both commercial and military cooperation with Israel. These parties argue that continuing business as usual with Israel is untenable in light of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The government, however, faces a delicate balancing act: maintaining Greece’s reputation as a welcoming tourist destination while navigating mounting domestic and international pressure over its relationship with Israel.
Not everyone in Greece supports the protests. Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, for example, publicly apologized to Israeli tourists who were denied their holiday experiences due to the demonstrations. “We owe an apology to these friends of Greece who chose to spend their holidays here and were forcibly denied it by some,” Georgiadis wrote on X (formerly Twitter) following the Syros incident. “Our country remains hospitable to all and antisemitism has no place here!”
Protest organizers, meanwhile, have cited online posts from travelers suggesting that off-duty Israeli soldiers were among the Crown Iris passengers, fueling further outrage among activists. The presence of soldiers, even on vacation, has become a lightning rod for criticism, with demonstrators arguing that it symbolizes support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
These protests are part of a wider wave of anti-Israel demonstrations across Europe, spurred by the ongoing war in Gaza. Many European governments have become more critical of Israel in recent weeks, and several unions have gone further by advocating for punitive measures. Yet, Israeli officials remain steadfast, insisting that their military objectives in Gaza—including the comprehensive defeat of Hamas—will not change in response to international criticism.
The situation has also raised questions about the boundaries between legitimate protest and antisemitism. While many demonstrators focus their criticism on Israeli government policy, there have been troubling incidents elsewhere. For example, in Halifax, Canada, a Jewish visitor was confronted with Nazi salutes and slurs at a Palestinian rally, prompting a hate crime complaint and sparking debate about the line between political protest and hate speech, as reported by the National Post. Although this incident occurred outside Greece, it underscores the complex and sometimes volatile nature of protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Back in Greece, the Crown Iris continues its route, albeit under heavy police protection and with an air of unease. For many Israelis, Greece remains an attractive holiday destination, but the recent wave of protests has cast a shadow over the country’s image as a carefree escape. Tourists now find themselves at the intersection of geopolitical strife and local activism, their vacations disrupted by events far beyond the beaches and ruins they came to enjoy.
As the summer season progresses, the Greek government faces mounting pressure from both sides: activists demanding a stronger stance against Israel, and officials and business leaders eager to preserve Greece’s reputation as a hospitable, inclusive destination. The outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear—the arrival of the Crown Iris has become a symbol of the far-reaching impact of the Israel-Hamas war, echoing from the shores of Gaza to the sunlit ports of the Aegean.
