Tensions ran high at the port of Piraeus from the early hours of Wednesday as demonstrators gathered to protest the arrival of the Crown Iris, a cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists.
Anti-war collectives, the Palestinian Community of Greece, the Piraeus Port Authority Dock Workers Union and several labor unions gathered near gates E11 and E12 where the vessel was expected to berth, from 6:30 a.m. The organizations allege that among the passengers are active IDF soldiers vacationing in Greece.
Protest gathering against the arrival of the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris at the port of Piraeus. Wednesday, June 3, 2026 (Danai Davlopoulou/Eurokinissi)
Large police contingents were deployed, erecting barriers to ensure passengers could disembark. Authorities moved passengers in groups by tourist coach under heavy security measures.
The situation escalated when one of the coaches carrying tourists passed the protest block and a passenger made what witnesses described as a provocative gesture toward the crowd. Demonstrators responded by hurling plastic bottles and other objects at the vehicle. Police intervened swiftly to prevent the incident from spreading and to keep the convoy moving.
Protest gathering against the arrival of the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris at the port of Piraeus. Wednesday, June 3, 2026 (Danai Davlopoulou/Eurokinissi)
The unrest did not end there. On Agiou Konstantinou Street, a main artery near the port, demonstrators blocked traffic, forcing the coaches to travel in the opposite lane toward central Piraeus. Groups of protesters attempted again to obstruct the vehicles, shouting anti-war slogans, triggering a fresh round of confrontations.
In a strongly worded statement, the Piraeus Port Authority Dock Workers Union described the situation in Gaza as “genocide and ethnic cleansing” carried out by Israel, and called the presence of the Crown Iris in Greek ports “a provocation.” The union also condemned what it characterized as repeated acts of “piracy” against vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international solidarity fleet attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Protest gathering against the arrival of the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris at the port of Piraeus. Wednesday, June 3, 2026 (Danai Davlopoulou/Eurokinissi)
The organizers directed sharp criticism at the Greek government, accusing it of active involvement in what they described as American and Israeli imperial designs in the Middle East. “Peoples across the world are demanding an immediate ceasefire. We do not remain silent and we demonstrate for peace with justice in Palestine,” the union statement read, calling on Athens to sever all cooperation with Tel Aviv.
This is not the first time the Crown Iris has been met with demonstrations at Greek ports. Similar protests were staged last year in Piraeus, Syros and Crete, among other locations.
