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Demonstrators in Greece once again tried to block an Israeli cruise ship from docking earlier this week — this time on the island of Rhodes — in a continuation of a disturbing pattern of escalating antisemitic hostility across the country.
The MS Crown Iris, operated by Israeli company Mano Maritime, arrived in Rhodes on Monday with more than 600 passengers on board. Protesters gathered near the island’s main port in an effort to prevent the ship’s arrival. Greek riot police intervened to disperse the demonstrators, and minor clashes were reported. Despite the confrontation, passengers were ultimately able to disembark safely.
This marked the second time in less than two weeks that the Crown Iris has been targeted. On a prior stop on the island of Syros, roughly 300 activists swarmed the dock, prompting security concerns and forcing the ship to cancel its visit entirely. The cruise was rerouted to Cyprus, upending plans for nearly 1,600 Israeli tourists expecting to visit Syros.
Demonstrators chanted “Freedom for Palestine” and other anti-Israel slogans, some of which carried clear antisemitic overtones. Signs reading “Stop the Genocide” and “No AC in Hell” were among the inflammatory messages on display.
The repeated targeting of Israeli tourists and businesses in Greece reflects a sharp rise in antisemitic aggression since Hamas’s October 7th massacre in Israel. In recent months, Greek cities have seen a surge in hate-fueled incidents directed at Israelis and Jews.
In early July, pro-Palestinian activists vandalized an Israeli-owned restaurant in Athens, scrawling threatening graffiti and shouting antisemitic slurs. A sign was taped to the window declaring, “All IDF soldiers are war criminals — we don’t want you here.” The restaurant was left defaced and shaken by the attack.
Just weeks earlier, an Israeli tourist in Athens was assaulted after being overheard speaking Hebrew while using Google Maps. His attackers beat him while hurling antisemitic insults, in yet another case of violence fueled by anti-Israel incitement.
