logo
Israeli cruise ship turned away from Greek island by Gaza war protest

Israeli cruise ship turned away from Greek island by Gaza war protest

The Guardiana day ago
A cruise liner carrying Israeli tourists has been forced to reroute to Cyprus after being turned away from the Greek island of Syros after a quayside protest over the Gaza war.
Around 1,600 Israeli passengers on board the Crown Iris were prevented from disembarking amid safety concerns when more than 300 demonstrators on the Cycladic isle made clear they were unwelcome over Israel's conduct of the war and treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. A large banner emblazoned with the words Stop the Genocide was held aloft alongside Palestinian flags.
A statement from the protesters also took issue with Greece's increasingly close 'economic, technological and military' relationship with Israel. 'As residents of Syros but more so as human beings, we are taking action that we hope will contribute to stopping this destruction from the genocidal war that is taking place in our neighbourhood,' it said.
Some passengers on the vessel reacted by raising Israeli flags and chanting patriotic slogans, eyewitnesses said.
Confirming the incident, Mano Maritime, the Israeli shipping firm operating the vessel, said: 'The ship arrived at Syros, encountered a demonstration by pro-Palestinian supporters, and passengers were stuck on board without permission to disembark.'
Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, contacted his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, over the incident, the Greek foreign ministry confirmed. It did not release any details of their discussion.
In recent years, Greece has become popular among Israeli tourists, reflecting the increasingly close ties between the two Mediterranean nations.
Although the protest concluded without injuries nor arrests, the episode highlighted mounting disquiet in Greece over Israel's actions in Gaza. Anti-Israeli graffiti have proliferated across the country, as has signage in support of Palestinians.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ian Hislop slams ‘mind-boggling' arrest of pensioner for holding up Private Eye cover at pro-Palestine protest
Ian Hislop slams ‘mind-boggling' arrest of pensioner for holding up Private Eye cover at pro-Palestine protest

The Independent

time2 hours ago

  • The Independent

Ian Hislop slams ‘mind-boggling' arrest of pensioner for holding up Private Eye cover at pro-Palestine protest

The arrest on terrorism charges of a 67-year-old man for holding up the front cover of Private Eye at a pro-Palestine protest is 'mind-boggling', Ian Hislop, the magazine's editor, has said. Pensioner Jon Farley, a former head teacher at a primary school, was arrested at a silent protest in Leeds on Saturday after police accused him of supporting Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation. The government voted earlier this month to designate the protest outfit a terrorist organisation after some of its members allegedly sprayed red paint at British fighter jets at RAF Brize Norton. The proscription afforded Palestine Action the same legal status as Isis, Al-Qaeda and far-right outfit National Action. The Private Eye cover held up by Mr Farley at the protest contained the words: 'Palestine Action Explained. Unacceptable Palestine Action: Spraying military planes with paint. Acceptable Palestine Action: Shooting Palestinians queueing for food.' At the bottom of Mr Farley's poster, the words 'Private Eye, no 1653' were written. West Yorkshire police arrested the pensioner under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000. He had never been detained before. '[Police officers] picked me up, grabbed me, and took me to the side, and I ended up sitting on the pavement,' the 67-year-old told The Guardian. 'I think that's when they said something about the placard. And I said: 'Well it's a cartoon from Private Eye. I can show you. I've got the magazine in my bag,' by which time, they were putting me in handcuffs.' A fellow protester later pointed out to the police that the latest edition of Private Eye was on sale at a nearby newsagents. Mr Farley spent six hours in detention being questioned by counter-terror police. He was allowed to leave under bail conditions that he refrain from attending 'Palestine Action' rallies. Mr Farley says he has never attended a Palestine Action rally, and it would be illegal to hold such a meeting. He pointed out that 32 Palestinians were shot while queueing for aid on the day he was arrested. He described the incident as evidence of a 'whole atmosphere of intimidation', adding that he believed the police were 'making up the law'. Mr Hislop, defending the front cover, said it was 'quite blatantly an example of freedom of speech'. Asked about the arrest of Mr Farley, he said: 'I did think it was mind-boggling. I mean, ludicrous. He obviously couldn't believe it and the immediate response in the office was that someone said: 'Well, the jokes have been criminal for ages.'' Mr Hislop described the cover as 'a very neat and funny little encapsulation about what is and isn't acceptable, and it's a joke about – I mean, it's quite a black joke – but about the hypocrisies of government approach to any sort of action in Gaza. 'So it's not difficult to understand. It's critical, but it is quite clearly a joke. Seems to me absolutely extraordinary that someone could be arrested for holding it up.'

Farage counter-protester claims at asylum hotel are ‘categorically wrong', Police say
Farage counter-protester claims at asylum hotel are ‘categorically wrong', Police say

The Independent

time3 hours ago

  • The Independent

Farage counter-protester claims at asylum hotel are ‘categorically wrong', Police say

Police say claims that officers 'bussed' counter-demonstrators to a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers, are 'categorically wrong'. Essex Police have denied the claims circulating on social media; claims of which Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said that the force's chief constable should resign for. A series of demonstrations took place outside the Bell Hotel in Epping since asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sexual assault after an incident earlier this month, in which he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. The force said the protests began peacefully but 'escalated to the point of disorder and criminal damage', with eight officers injured at one demonstration outside the hotel on Thursday evening and five men charged with disorder at the protests. Alongside footage shared in a post on X, the Clacton MP said: 'This video proves @EssexPoliceUK transported left-wing protesters to the Bell Hotel in Epping. There is no way Chief Constable BJ Harrington can stay in position.' But in a statement released shortly afterwards, a force spokesperson said: 'There are claims on social media that Essex Police officers 'bussed' protesters to the protest outside the Bell Hotel on Thursday July 17. 'This is categorically wrong. 'Officers did provide a foot cordon around protesters on their way to the protest, where they and others were allowed to exercise their right to protest. 'Later, some people who were clearly at risk of being hurt were also escorted by vehicle away from the area for their safety. 'To reiterate, we categorically did not drive any counter-protesters to the site on any occasion.' In an update to the gathered media in Chelmsford, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said Essex Police had made 10 arrests following the protests. He said: 'I want to thank the people of Epping, I want to thank the people of Essex. 'I also want to thank all those who have turned up to protest and express their views peacefully and lawfully, because there have been many of those. 'What has been unacceptable has been the people who have come to Epping and committed violence, who have attacked people who work at the hotel, who have attacked officers, who have damaged property and who have caused fear and disruption to the people of Epping.' Mr Harrington said the force were aware of 'a couple' of protests being advertised and discussed over the coming week, and that it had a robust operation in place. 'It's abOut communities. It's about protecting communities, whoever they are,' he added. Kebatu denied the sexual assault charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Jonathan Glover, 47, of Springfields, Waltham Abbey, Stuart Williams, 36, of Duck Lane, Thornwood, Epping, Keith Silk, 33, of Torrington Drive, Loughton, and Dean Smith, 51, of Madells, Epping, have been charged with violent disorder in connection with the protests and are due to appear at the same court on August 18, Essex Police said on Tuesday. A fifth man, Joe McKenna, 34, of Highcliffe Road, Wickford, is charged with failing to remove a face covering when told to do so and remains on bail until a hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on September 24. Essex Police previously said the cost of policing the incidents in Epping over the last week had reached £100,000.

Ukrainians are protesting a law targeting anti-corruption agencies. Here's why
Ukrainians are protesting a law targeting anti-corruption agencies. Here's why

The Independent

time3 hours ago

  • The Independent

Ukrainians are protesting a law targeting anti-corruption agencies. Here's why

Ukrainians are taking to the streets to protest a new law they worry will undermine the work of two key anti-corruption agencies, by eroding the independence of bodies meant to provide a check on power. Discontent over the law led to the first major demonstration against the government in more than three years of war, marking the most serious fracture yet in the national unity that has helped Ukraine resist Russia's invasion. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defended the law as necessary to remove ' Russian influence' from the fight against corruption, though he didn't provide examples of such interference. The law adds new oversight for anti-corruption agencies Ukraine's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday that brings the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the authority of the prosecutor general, who is a presidential appointee. Zelenskyy signed it into law, even as thousands took to the streets asking him to scrap it. Critics say it could give Zelenskyy's circle greater influence over investigations. It comes after Zelenskyy carried out a reshuffle of his wartime Cabinet, a move also widely viewed as consolidating power with his inner circle. Before the bill was signed, the agencies warned that, if it took effect, 'the head of SAPO will become a nominal figure, while NABU will lose its independence and turn into a subdivision of the prosecutor general's office.' NABU investigates corruption cases involving top officials, while SAPO supervises these investigations and prosecutes cases in court. The law has unleashed criticism of the government Ukraine has a robust tradition of pro-democracy protests, with street demonstrations twice resulting in political upheavals. In fact, the two agencies in question were established after the 2014 Maidan revolution, which ousted then-President Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's pro-Moscow leader who was accused of corruption on a massive scale, stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from the government. His corruption was so vast that ordinary Ukrainians were aghast when they toured the grounds of his lavish mansion and discovered his collection of expensive cars and even a private zoo. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, however, rallies have largely focused on the return of prisoners of war or missing people. But Tuesday's demonstrations trained public outrage on the government, with some calling the law a greater blow to morale than even routine Russian drone and missile attacks. A mood of anger and frustration among the war-weary Ukrainians prevailed in the crowd. Some protesters accused Ukraine's leadership of prioritizing loyalty and personal connections over the fight against corruption. 'Ukraine has far fewer resources than Russia in this war,' said Ihor Lachenkov, a blogger and activist who urged people to join the protest through his social media platforms, which reach more than 1.5 million followers. 'If we misuse them, or worse, allow them to end up in the pockets of thieves, our chances of victory diminish. All our resources must go toward the fight.' The protests have raised questions about the state of democracy in Ukraine — one of the values it is fighting for in the war with Russia. 'When a spectacle is staged and pushed through in 24 hours for everyone to swallow, that is not justice,' former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Instagram. The government defends the move In his address Tuesday night, Zelenskyy insisted that the country's anti-corruption infrastructure 'will continue to function' after it is 'cleansed of any Russian influence.' He alleged that some cases had been allowed to languish and the targets of some investigations never brought to justice. 'For years, officials who have fled Ukraine have been casually living abroad for some reason — in very nice countries and without legal consequences — and this is not normal,' he said in a Telegram post. On Wednesday, he gathered the heads of law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies and the prosecutor general. He announced that a detailed action plan will be developed within two weeks to ensure the system is more effective and fair. 'We see what people expect from state institutions to ensure justice and the effectiveness of each institution,' he said on Telegram. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko dismissed concerns about the agencies' independence. 'I can promise that I will not misuse these rights,' he said. 'I could sign this promise in blood, if necessary.' Fighting corruption is crucial to Ukraine's future The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticized the law, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since the 2014 uprising and that it damages trust with international partners. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial to Ukraine's bid to join the European Union and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid. In a post on X, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos called the new law 'a serious step back.' The action against the agencies comes only a month after the NABU launched a criminal investigation into then–Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov — one of the highest-profile corruption cases since Zelenskyy took office. Chernyshov has denied the allegations but was removed from his post during last week's government reshuffle. It also follows the arrest of two NABU officials on suspicion of having ties to Russia by Ukraine's Security Service.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store