ATHENS, Greece (AP) 鈥 A cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists left the Greek island of Syros Tuesday without its passengers disembarking, after more than 150 protesters demonstrated at the island鈥檚 port, unfurling Palestinian flags and calling for an end to the war in Gaza.
Carrying banners that read: 鈥淪top the Genocide鈥 and 鈥淣o a/c in hell鈥 鈥 a reference to the conditions Palestinians face in the Gaza Strip 鈥 the protesters chanted slogans on the dock near where the cruise ship, the Crown Iris, was docked on Tuesday, local media said. There were no reports of any violence.
The ship is operated by an Israeli company, Mano Cruise, which said about 1,700 passengers were on board and it is sailing to Cyprus.
Greece鈥檚 coast guard said the ship set sail at around 3 p.m., earlier than originally scheduled, but did not immediately have any further details.
鈥淭he management of Mano Cruise has decided in light of the situation in the city of Syros to now sail to another tourist destination,鈥 the company said in a press release. 鈥淎ll passengers and crew members are resting and spending time on the ship on their way to the new destination.鈥
Israel鈥檚 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.
