Moment pro-Palestine protesters block Israeli cruise ship passengers from disembarking on Greek island before vessel has to divert to Cyprus
The Crown Iris, which was carrying around 1,700 Israeli nationals, including between 300 to 400 children, was prevented from disembarking at Ermoupoli, in the Greek island of Syros.
It was instead diverted to the Port of Limassol in Cyprus, where it arrived on Wednesday.
The cruise ship had been met with an anti-Israel demonstration of more than 150 protesters as it attempted to disembark for a six-hour visit on Tuesday.
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.
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.
'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 protest was met with rage by Greece's Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis who said it was 'shameful for Greece'.
'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.
Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar spoke with Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis on Tuesday and 'requested intervention'.
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.
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You can read our latest report on Israel's war in Gaza here. 9.59am EDT 09:59 In a video statement released ahead of a conference on Palestine opening in New York tomorrow, the UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, has urged governments around the world to pressure Israel to end its assault on Gaza – and said those that don't use their 'leverage' may be complicit in 'international crimes'. Here is what he said in full: I urge immediate steps by Israel to end its unlawful continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, and for all parties to work for tangible progress towards a two state solution. I urge governments to use the opportunity of this conference for concrete action that puts all possible pressure on the Israeli government to end the carnage in Gaza permanently. Countries that fail to use their leverage may be complicit in international crimes. Every day we are watching the unspeakable tragedy in Gaza and the West Bank with horror and frustration. Every day we see more destruction, more killings and the further dehumanisation of Palestinians. The people of the world will judge this conference on what it delivers. I call again for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and all others arbitrarily detained, immediate and unhindered humanitarian access, and the delivery of massive humanitarian aid to Palestinians wherever they are. 9.28am EDT 09:28 has said the airdrops into Gaza are wholly inadequate for the population's needs and has called for the immediate opening of all crossings for full humanitarian access into the territory devasted by relentless Israeli bombardments and a partial aid blockade. Bushra Khalidi, policy lead for the Occupied Palestinian territory, said: Deadly airdrops and a trickle of trucks won't undo months of engineered starvation in Gaza. What's needed is the immediate opening of all crossings for full, unhindered, and safe aid delivery across all of Gaza and a permanent ceasefire. Anything less risks being little more than a tactical gesture. Updated at 9.28am EDT 8.54am EDT 08:54 In a post on X published after his phone call with Benjamin Netanyahu, Friedrich Merz added: We will closely monitor developments and, in coordination with France, the UK, other European partners, the United States, and Arab states, decide in the coming days how we can contribute to improving the situation.
