Israeli cruise ship unwelcomed at Greece’s Port of Volos

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) -The Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris was met with an unwelcome reception by hundreds of people in Greece's Port of Volos on Wednesday.

A crowd of pro-Palestinian activists, mostly from left-wing parties and associations, trade unions, lawmakers, and senior executives from the Greek Communist Party (KKE), gathered around the port to prevent the passengers from disembarking, who they noted included Israeli soldiers, according to the 902.gr news outlet.

Though passengers were allowed to disembark and be transferred to tour buses under heavy police protection, protesters carried Palestinian flags and banners condemning Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza.

“The murderers of Palestinian people and peoples of the Middle East are not welcome,” “Freedom to Palestine,” and “Victory to Palestine” were also among the slogans chanted by the protesters.

In recent weeks, Crown Iris’s visits to many other Greek ports, including Syros, Rhodes, and Agios Nicholas in Crete, were met with similar protests.

Israel is facing mounting condemnation for its genocidal war on Gaza, where it has killed nearly 61,600 victims since October 2023.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.