Tension prevailed and police fired teargas at Pro_Palestinian protesters during the arrival of the Israeli-flagged cruise ship “Crown Iris” with hundreds of Israeli tourists onboard at the port of Agios Nikolaos, Crete, on Tuesday.
Palestinian flags, banners and chanted slogans condemned the genocide in Gaza and the starving of people.
However, the peaceful protest turned ugly when some protesters hurled bottles at the buses carrying the Israeli tourists to Knossos and police fired teargas – by mistake also the the leadership of the Greek Police coordinating the safety of the tourists-turned-controversial-visitors.
The protest in Agios Nikolaos was the sequence of the solidarity protests on the islands of Syros last week and on Rhodes, yesterday, Monday.
According to e-kriti.gr, residents and organizations of the area, shoutedg slogans and holding banners in favor of Palestine, welcomed the Israeli cruise ship. However, tension then arose between the protesters and the police, resulting in the use of chemical weapons and the police proceeding with arrests.
It is noted that there was a strong police presence at the scene, while the Coast Guard forces were also enhanced reinforced, with the Greek Coast Guard even accompanying the cruise ship upon its arrival.
The Israeli tourists departed by buses, passing through the lake bridge next to the protesters. Tension during the departure of the buses with the Israelis
According to cretalive.gr, during the departure of the buses, which transport the Israeli passengers of the cruise ship in Heraklion, destined for Knossos, some threw bottles and other objects at the vehicles, chanted “Freedom to Palestine” and booed the tourists.
The police fired teargas, sparking even bigger tension. The result was a stifling atmosphere, with several people, including children crying and elderly feeling uncomfortable.
The local media reported that also the Israeli tourists threw objects at the protesters, while one Israeli flag landed in the water.
Three protesters have been detained and were later released.
Note that the Crown Iris has scheduled its journeys to the Greek islands throughout August.
Cruise ship Crown Iris is expected to depart Agios Nikolaos at 8 p.m.
Greece relies on torism but there comes a point where accepting money from certain nations who are engaged in illegal acivity is morally wrong and these countries face need to face travel bans and sanctions in order to stop the illegal activity that amount to murder by the state. It is good to see that some people still have moral values, but the businesses that deal with Israel need to stop. No fuel or food or medical treatment for cruise ships or tourists. After all thats what they are doing to the people of gaza
Im honestly losing hope and faith in the human race.😩
Wouldn’t it be something if we could all have a bit of respect for each other! Greed,power and religion are destroying us.
Palestinian flags, banners and chanted slogans condemned the genocide in Gaza and the starving of people.
What genocide?? What starvation???? Palestinian terrorist propaganda
is trolling a profitable business?