Pro-Palestinian Protest in Crete Greets Israeli Tourists with Large Flag and Tensions

On Tuesday morning, Israeli tourists arriving by a Meno Shipping cruise at the port of Sitia in Crete were met by a large pro-Palestinian protest. A video obtained by ynet showed demonstrators waving a giant Palestinian flag near the dock as passengers disembarked. Carmela, who was there with her two 14-year-old grandchildren, described the reception as "unpleasant, to say the least," noting the presence of local police maintaining a barrier between the angry protesters and the Israeli tourists.

Despite the protest, some passengers chose to leave the ship and explore the area. Carmela said the experience was unsettling, especially for families with young children, but she trusted the local police and decided to proceed with sightseeing as planned. Another source, Sagie, who was in contact with family members on the ship, reported that many Israelis were afraid to disembark, with some returning to the ship after encountering the hostile reception.

This incident follows a recent route change of the same cruise due to a similar pro-Palestinian protest on another island. It also reflects a broader increase in reports of hostility and antisemitism against Israelis abroad. According to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, between July 2025 and July 2026, there were 45 reports of antisemitic incidents involving Israelis overseas, including assaults, verbal abuse, service refusals, and threats.

Additionally, a recent controversy in Italy involved a circulated online form urging people to report the presence of Jews and Israelis in hotels and businesses, aiming to "map Zionist tourism." The form was removed after intervention by Italy’s antisemitism commissioner, General Pasquale Angelosanto. However, Jewish community leaders in Italy warned of a worsening antisemitic climate, with Victor Padelon, head of Rome’s Jewish community, calling it a "real manhunt," and Livio Ottolenghi, president of the Union of Jewish Communities of Italy, describing it as a "significant escalation in antisemitism."