Video: Gaza protesters block Israeli tourists from entering Greek island
Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and called for an end to the conflict in Gaza.
They displayed banners reading "Stop the Genocide" and "No a/c in hell."
The vessel, identified as the Crown Iris operated by Israeli company Mano Cruise, had about 1,700 passengers on board.
'The management of Mano Cruise has decided in light of the situation in the city of Syros to now sail to another tourist destination,' the company said in a press release.
'All passengers and crew members are resting and spending time on the ship on their way to the new destination.'
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Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Locals' fury at plan to move asylum seekers into £250,000 flats that they say will bring crime spike and violent protests
Residents whose town could soon have a migrant hotel installed above shops in the middle of the high street fear it will cause 'mayhem' and lead to unrest. The Home Office sparked fury this week after it emerged they were secretly plotting, without consultation with the local council, to relocate 35 asylum seekers to a brand new development in Waterlooville, Hampshire, as part of a wider plan to lower the numbers in hotels and 'disperse' migrants across UK towns and cities. With just days to go until a decision is due to be made and amid a planned protest to block the move, residents have expressed concern at being kept in the dark over major decisions that could shape the future of their town. Pompey fan Steve, 58, who has lived in the area his whole life, told MailOnline: 'I've got a 13-year-old granddaughter, when you're about that age, you want to go out up the high street, but I'd be worried now. 'There's no criminal history checks on these people. It's easy to get swept up in that aspect, but it's not just that, I think it will attract trouble for us as well as the migrants. 'With the planned protests, I don't want people to start smashing things up because that plays into the hands of the Home Office and police who say 'see, there we go, right wing'. 'We have genuine concerns but the narrative can change quickly.' The earmarked development is a newly converted block of 19 flats called Waterloo House. It is owned by Mountley Group whose Director, Hersch Schneck, also owns a migrant hotel in nearby Cosham. At the top of the market, the flats could fetch £250,000 each but falling house prices mean taking them off the market and entering into a deal with Clearsprings, a company which procures accommodation for asylum seekers on behalf of the Home Office, could be a far more profitable move for Mountley Group. That's because the government could offer top of the market fees in order to get migrants into housing. As a result, Mountley Group could enjoy fixed guaranteed rates for several years and not be at risk of market turbulence. As well as private rentals, the Home Office is seeking medium-sized sites such as former student accommodation and old tower blocks to house migrants. The flats are located above a bric a brac store called The Junk Emporium which was once a Peacocks clothing store and before that, a Tesco. A member of staff at the shop, who rent from Mountley Group, told MailOnline how they only found out about the plans over Facebook and revealed the fallout of the row has severely impacted business. She explained: 'Yesterday we probably took around a third less. They [customers] think it's to do with us but it's not, we just rent the shop, they kind of assume we know what is going which we don't. 'We've had lots of phone calls and people coming in asking questions we can't answer. We were always under the impression that the flats above would be sold to commuters and people like that. 'The only thing the owners have told us is that it will not be for 35 single men, it is families. What concerns us is this protest. We have not had any assurances in the event of damage to the shop.' Others in Waterlooville, said to be named by soldiers returning from the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, feel just as left out of the conversation. Sid Conroy, who used to work for Airbus and now spends his time breeding racing pigeons, fears serious repercussions if the hotel gets given the greenlight. The 68-year-old said: 'I'm dead against it, there could be fights and trouble up here. You're going to have problems here, I can tell you that. 'There are people waiting years on housing waiting lists and it just seems like they get a brand new flat just like that? Why can't they look after us first? 'Our government is making us unhappy because of it. People are left behind, they're thinking more of the people coming in now. You get them coming over here, causing mayhem, causing trouble, all they get is a slap on the wrist and don't do it again. This is how I see it.' Jdarno Osborne, a mum whose children have challenging medical needs, says the hotel has left her angry because she has struggled to get stable housing in the past. The 36-year-old, who has lived in the area her whole life, said: 'It's funny how they can quickly house people from out of the country yet our own don't get support. 'I've got six kids, I lived in a two bed flat for thirteen years and yet somebody can come over and get helped straight away. 'My daughter is 15 now, they sometimes come here to hang with their friends. But it is worrying, there are things kicking off elsewhere because you hear of cases of rapes, harassment, stalking. 'We have to deal with this but people don't seem to care.' The row over the proposed hotel has triggered a political fallout which has seen local MP for Fareham and Waterlooville, Suella Braverman, the former Home Secretary, launch a petition to block the hotel going ahead. She said such sites make town centres 'no-go zones for the patriotic, common-sense majority' adding: 'This site, in the centre of our town, is utterly inappropriate for migrant accommodation. It must be stopped.' Her petition has garnered nearly 10,000 signatures. Leader of Labour-run Havant Borough Council, Councillor Phil Munday, said last week how the row came about after Clearsprings, who are procuring the site, sent their consultation to the wrong email address. In a furious public statement, he said he was 'extremely disappointed' that such an important issue was handled so poorly but went on to lambast Ms Braverman for 'headline-grabbing'. He added: 'They also failed to follow up to ensure a response of some kind was registered. These consultation exercises need to be taken seriously. The council have secured a 10-day consultation extension period to consider the plans. A decision is expected on 1st August. 'I look forward to the council providing a response that reflects the concerns of the borough', Mr Munday said. Nikki Woodley and her 14-year-old son Harry said they also have reservations if migrants were to be relocated to the high street. Nikki said: 'The council say the information was sent to the wrong person which I don't know if I agree with or not. But I'm obviously against the hotel. It's the worse place to put it because there are children everywhere here. 'I'm not saying they're going to be all horrible and bad and criminals but if they're illegal we don't know who they are, we've got no idea who they are, they could have PTSD. 'I don't suppose you'll come anyone who is for it.' Harry, who spoke to MailOnline with permission from his mum, said he sometimes hangs out on the high street and while the prospect of groups of young migrant men wouldn't bother him too much he said 'I'd probably feel a bit cautious' and consider socialising elsewhere. Kathleen Kingston, 67, who has lived in the area her whole life said housing people above shops on a high street is plain wrong. She went on: 'I think of the accommodation for locals like housing association, there are more people that need housing.' Patricia Walding, 87, added: 'These hotels are changing our towns, they are costing us a fortune and robbing the taxpayer while our own people are sleeping on the streets, I think it's disgusting.' But not everyone is so against the plans. One lady, an SEN teacher, who did not want to be named, feels local people are unloading unrelated grievances about their lives onto asylum seekers because they are 'an easy target'. The mum said: 'People have got different views, those views are not wanting to house asylum seekers. The views and reasoning behind it are one, very racist, and two, not the right reasons. You hear it a lot, just the chat about migrants. 'I don't believe for one second they care about the money side of things with the migrant criss or the actual safety of other people. 'I understand people are concerned about women and children. I'm concerned about the other side of it, the protests, all these people gathering. They'll say its peaceful but it definitely wont be. 'I've had asylum seekers as students, one of them has just past their level three and I couldn't be more proud. When you actually listen to someone like that and they tell you stories what it is really like to come from somehwere like that, you have no idea, you get to wake up in a warm bed every morning. When you see videos they won't show on the BBC. 'Everytime I share my views, people say it's stupid. But you can't help where you're born.' The Leader of Havant Borough Council, Councillor Phil Munday, said 'I understand we have an instructed duty from the Home Office to house asylum seekers within the borough, however it is important that the council works closely with all concerned to advise on the placement for these vulnerable people. 'I have taken immediate action and personally called The Home Office to request an extension to their consultation in order for us to respond accordingly. This has also been followed up with formal requests in writing from our officers. 'We are extremely disappointed that the company involved with this important consultation, considering the impact it may have on our local community, was not only sent to an incorrect email address, but they also failed to follow up to ensure a response of some kind was registered. These consultation exercises need to be taken seriously. Councillor Phil Munday added 'I also have grave concerns on the impact the recent video posted by MP Suella Braverman will have, and I would urge the community to act responsibly and allow us to address this matter formally in the correct manner. 'As part of my open letter to Suella Braverman MP on this matter I will be reminding her that those who could potentially be accommodated somewhere within our borough, will be supported asylum seekers. 'They are categorically not recognised by the state as illegal immigrants – regardless of the headline-grabbing title of Suella Braverman's petition – and I urge people to consider this in their views and actions.' As of late June 2025, there are approximately 32,000 asylum seekers housed in hotels in the UK. As of July 20, 2025, over 20,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats this year, according to the BBC.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Taunted to the tune of Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep, Epping's mums refused to back down: RONAN O'REILLY
Blink and you'd have nearly missed them. It was just after 4pm when the rent-a-crowd from Stand Up To Racism descended on The Bell Hotel on the edge of Epping. They were on their way home again within three-quarters of hour. Cynical observers might suggest that many of them had long journeys and they didn't want to get home too late. They were there, of course, to stage a counter-protest against the latest demonstration by local people over the hotel being used to house migrants. The controversy has been growing since Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl eight days after arriving in the UK. Kebatu, 38, who had been staying at the hotel, denies all three charges he faces. Police shepherded around 500 of the Left-wing protesters into a field by the hotel after stressing earlier that they had a 'really robust plan' to deal with trouble. Their warning came after hard-Right activist Tommy Robinson indicated last week he planned to attend and would be 'bringing thousands more with me' – before apparently changing his mind. Credit where it is due, the Stand Up To Racism mob certainly succeeded in making themselves heard. There may be question marks over their commitment, but there was nothing wrong with their vocal cords or lung capacity. To the tune of Middle Of The Road's 1970 hit Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep, they taunted the opposing crowd over Robinson's no-show with goading chants of 'Where's your Tommy gone?' There were some more predictable choruses of 'Say it loud, Say it clear, Asylum seekers welcome here' and placards with slogans such as 'Unite against the Far Right', 'No to Racism, No to Hatred'. There was also an exchange of abuse with the anti-hotel side, who were stationed only a few yards away. And then they departed in a sea of banners and flags, including - almost inevitably – a smattering in the Palestinian colours. Last week, the Mail revealed that the protests against the decision to requisition The Bell Hotel for migrants were spear-headed not by hard-Right activists but a group of local mothers, spurred into action by the perceived threat to their daughters. 'I think women are naturally more tolerant – we have got to put up with men after all – but when you start to threaten our children, then we snap,' said Orla Minihane, a mother of three teenagers who has become a vocal council candidate for the Reform Party. Yesterday, before the arrival of the Stand Up To Racism protesters, police had kept a discreet presence at the rail station. By 1pm, however, officers in riot gear were in position five yards apart outside The Bell. Behind them, the hotel itself was surrounded by 8ft security barriers. Reinforcements had been drafted in from forces across Britain, including Cheshire, Lancashire, Leicester and Wales as well as both the Met and City of London Police, to assist Essex Police. Officers had banned face coverings to root out troublemakers. Across the High Road, residents demanding the hotel's closure were gathering, some draped in Union Jacks, others waving St George's Crosses. Placards were emblazoned with slogans such as 'Protect our Kids', 'Defend our girls, deport foreign criminals' and 'Make Britain Great'. Judging by people I spoke to, most of the crowd, which was pretty evenly split by age and gender, were either part of the immediate community or from nearby areas. Local hairdresser Kelly Hill said: 'This isn't fair. The Government has to be held to account. We have rights as well.' Stan Booth said: 'I have sympathy for people who are genuinely seeking asylum or have had to flee their own countries for legitimate reasons. But it is unreal what we have here. Nobody knows who they are, where they've come from or what they have done.' The migrants were also stuck behind security barriers, prompting one protester to put up homemade 'prisoner of war' signs on the bars. Someone else lightened the mood at one point by playing the theme music from The Great Escape over a sound system. Meanwhile, cheers rang out as excerpts from historical speeches were played. They included Winston Churchill's famous wartime address to the House of Commons on June 4, 1940, when he declared: 'We shall never surrender.' There were cheers, too, when a clip was played of Margaret Thatcher in Parliament, warning of 'international chaos' if we 'get to a situation where illegal immigrants cannot be returned to their country of origin'. Yet despite the occasional moments of levity, the atmosphere among the protesters was one of grim determination. One of the organisers, 40-year-old Sarah White, said: 'This is about sending a clear message that we don't want a hotel in our town housing undocumented men. 'It needs closing down. No area should have them.' Rose Thomas, from Basildon, said: 'There's already a strong message. We don't want hotels full of men from foreign countries.' Nor were the protesters without the backing of fellow locals. Over the course of several hours, practically every third or fourth driver tooted their car horn in support. It is difficult to see the residents of this quintessentially English town giving up their fight soon.
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
Hundreds gather again at Essex asylum hotel in weekend of anti-immigrant protests
Hundreds of people gathered outside a hotel in Epping on Sunday for the fifth time to demonstrate over the premises being used to house asylum seekers, as protests spread to other hotels over the weekend. A large police presence containing officers from multiple forces restricted contact between anti- and pro-immigrant protesters, with Essex police saying restrictions were necessary after what it described as repeated serious disruption, violence and harm to the community since the first demonstration took place on 13 July. Two men were charged with public order offences after a protest of about 400 anti-immigration and 250 counter-protesters outside a hotel in Diss on Saturday, Norfolk constabulary said. There was a further protest outside a hotel in Canary Wharf in London on Sunday, with the number of protesters appearing to be in the low hundreds. The demonstration in Epping in Essex on Sunday – where as many as 500 anti-immigrant protesters gathered behind metal barriers outside the Bell hotel – was the latest in a series of protests that began after an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault for allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody. Protesters wore T-shirts and held up signs bearing the slogan 'protect our kids', while others waved England flags. Other flags seen included one for Reform UK, and a white flag with a red cross on a blue square, as seen in the US at anti-abortion demonstrations. Counter-protesters held banners including one that read 'Don't let the far right divide us with their hatred and violence', and 'Care for refugees'. They chanted 'Refugees are welcome here' and 'Nazi scum off our streets'. Police said three people were arrested during the peaceful protest, two from the anti-hotel protest group and the other from the counter-protest group. 'I want to thank those who attended for the peaceful nature of both protests,' said Ch Supt Simon Anslow of Essex police. 'I am pleased that today has passed off without incident and I am grateful to our colleagues from other forces for their support.' In a letter sent to the Guardian, asylum seekers said 'harmful stereotypes' about refugees did not reflect the truth. 'There are some refugees who do not behave respectfully or who do not follow the rules of the host society. But those individuals do not represent all of us,' they said. 'As with any group of people, there are both good and bad – and it is unfair to judge the majority by the actions of a few.' The letter mentioned fleeing persecution and violence. 'We refugees are not here to take advantage of the system. We are here to rebuild our lives, to work, and to contribute,' they wrote, adding: 'This letter is not a plea for sympathy, but a call for understanding and fairness.' Outside the Bell hotel, one local woman, who did not want to be named, said residents had complained about an increase in antisocial incidents since it began housing asylum seekers but felt ignored and unfairly labelled as 'far right'. 'I'm not saying everyone in any of these hotels is up to no good. I'm not going to judge everyone, but there is no vetting,' she said. 'We won't stop until they start listening and shut this hotel down.' Activists from far-right groups including Homeland, Patriotic Alternative and the neo-Nazi White Vanguard movement have been present at previous protests. On Sunday Kai Stephens, the Norfolk branch organiser for Homeland, held a sign that said: 'Put local people first.' Stephens said: 'Unfortunately, there has to be a certain point where we turn around and say, the British people should be put first, the indigenous British people.' Supporters of the far-right activist Tommy Robinson were also present. Robinson, 42, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had said he would attend before changing his mind and saying it would not be helpful to protesters. Other local protesters said far-right agitators were not welcome. 'It's 100% unhelpful, because it just gives them a message which is not what we're trying to achieve here,' said one man, who did not want to be named. Stand Up to Racism, the group that organised the counter-protest, estimated about 700 people had gone to Epping. Lewis Nielsen, an officer at Stand Up to Racism, said Nigel Farage's Reform UK had emboldened the far right. 'It's a really dangerous situation at the moment because you haven't just got the protest here, you've got other protests coming up around the country,' Nielsen said. 'We stopped the riots last August with these kinds of mobilisations, and that's why we're pleased the one today has been successful.' One protester, Joshua Bailey, who said he grew up in Epping, said increasing anti-immigration sentiment had made people of colour in his friend group feel vulnerable and threatened. 'It's very important that we have a positive stance towards refugees, who are people fleeing genuine tragedy and disaster.' He said he did not agree with chants that labelled protesters as fascists or Nazis. 'There is room for nuance,' he said. 'I'd like to be able to sit down in a pub with someone who had opposing views and be able to speak about it.'
