Pro-Palestine protesters have clashed with riot police in Rhodes while an Israeli cruise ship docked on the Greek Island.
Scuffles broke out as protesters chanted ‘Freedom for Palestine‘ while police squads, armed with riot shields and helmets, pushed them back.
The demonstration took place while the Israeli cruise ship, the Crown Iris, docked on the island.
A number of protesters were arrested during the rally, while police were seen restraining others.
The same ship, which was forced away from Syros last Tuesday after a furious pro-Palestine protest, had been carrying around 650 Israeli tourists and arrived in Rhodes without delay.
Strong security measures had been put in place on the island as Greek authorities bid to prevent a repeat of Syros, where 1,700 Israeli tourists, including 300 to 400 children, were forced away last week.
They were instead diverted to the Port of Limassol in Cyprus, where it arrived on Wednesday.
Greece’s Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis described that protest as ‘shameful for Greece’.
Scuffles broke out as protesters chanted ‘Freedom for Palestine ‘ while police squads, armed with riot shields and helmets, pushed them back
Strong security measures had been put in place on the island as Greek authorities bid to prevent a repeat of Syros
Pro-Palestine protesters clashed with riot police in Rhodes while an Israeli cruise ship docked on the Greek Island
‘We owe an apology to those friends of Greece who chose to spend their holidays here and were forcibly denied that right by some.
‘This incident must neither harm our relations with [Israel] nor the love of Israeli tourists for Greece,’ he said.
While Greek police and port authorities had prepared for further protests on Monday, local businesses were opposed to the demonstration.
Greece has become an increasingly popular destination for Israeli travellers and tourist bodies, as well as the mayor of Rhodes Alexandros Koliadis, welcomed them with traditional sweets from Rhodes.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had contacted his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, over the Syros protests after more than 150 furiously demonstrated as the cruise ship attempted to disembark for a six-hour visist.
Protesters carried Palestinian flags, chanted and held banners reading ‘Stop the Genocide’ and ‘No a/c in hell’ as they formed a line to prevent the Israeli passengers from arriving in Greece.
Some passengers responded by waving Israeli flags and singing patriotic songs.
‘Inside the ship, we feel safe, but the children are a little stressed,’ one passenger told Israeli broadcaster Kan.
A number of arrests of protesters were arrested during the rally, local media have reported
The demonstration took place while the Israeli cruise ship, the Crown Iris, docked on the island
Palestine protesters had attempted to disrupt the Crown Iris, which was forced to divert to Cyprus last week after a similar rally
Initially Mano Maritime, who own the boat, said there would be a ‘slight delay’ in docking the ship, as they estimated the protest would disperse within half an hour.
But as it continued the shipping company skipped Syros and rerouted to Limassol.
The Greek coast guard confirmed the ship set sail at around 3pm on Tuesday, earlier than its original schedule.
‘The ship arrived at Syros, encountered a demonstration by pro-Palestinian supporters, and passengers were stuck on board without permission to disembark,’ Mano Maritime later said.
They later added: ‘The management of Mano Maritime has decided in light of the situation in the city of Syros to now sail to another tourist destination.’
A group called We Stay Active organised the protest.
In a social media post they wrote ‘residents and visitors to the island state that soldiers, settlers, and supporters of the war and the occupation of Palestine are unwanted on their island.’
Following the protest, they added: ‘We note that there have been numerous complaints from all over Greece about the provocative behaviour of Israeli tourists, who support genocide and who behave as if our places belong to them.
A number of protesters were arrested during the rally as police cracked down on the demonstration
Around 650 Israeli tourists on the ship arrived in Rhodes without delay despite the demonstrations
Tourist bodies, as well as the mayor of Rhodes Alexandros Koliadis, welcomed the Israeli tourists with traditional sweets from Rhodes
The Crown Iris was prevented from disembarking at Ermoupoli, in the Greek island of Syros
The cruise ship had been met with an anti-Israel demonstration of more than 150 protesters in Syros as it attempted to disembark for a six-hour visit on Tuesday
‘We do not want their money! We do not tolerate their presence! Bravo to the residents of Syros!’
A further post, once the ship departed, said that ‘residents remain on alert in case it tries to return’.
‘Of course, those who oppose the war, the occupation, and the genocide are welcome,’ it added.
The same ship, the Crown Iris, was last month used to transport Israeli nationals to and from Cyprus after Israel closed its airspace during its 12-day conflict with Iran.
It has also been used as part of the country’s Operation Safe Return mission to repatriate citizens during conflict.
