Minor clashes occurred on the Greek island of Rhodes on Monday, July 28 as riot police confronted protesters rallying against the war in Gaza while an Israeli cruise ship was docked at the port, according to local media.
Television footage showed a small group of demonstrators near the harbour shouting “Freedom for Palestine,” before being pushed back by police, resulting in brief scuffles.
Despite the protest, passengers from the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris – reportedly carrying over 600 tourists – disembarked without incident.
The protest had been organised by anti-war activists in response to the ship’s scheduled stop in Rhodes, though local business owners had voiced opposition to the demonstration.
This followed a similar event last week on the island of Syros, where more than 150 protesters gathered at the port, waving Palestinian flags and calling for an end to the Gaza conflict. On that occasion, the Crown Iris departed early without allowing passengers to disembark. No violence was reported.
In the aftermath of the Syros incident, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar contacted his Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis.
Source: AP News
