The arrival of the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris at the port of Heraklion on April 8, sparked a charged atmosphere as thousands of Israeli tourists disembarked for a day of sightseeing—only to be met by a small group of local demonstrators whose message went far beyond politics.

Operated by Mano Maritime, Crown Iris was calling at Heraklion as part of its regular Eastern Mediterranean itinerary. But the ship’s presence coincided with a pre-planned demonstration in the city center. At the pier protesters unveiled a twenty-meter Palestinian flag—and verbally harassed Israeli tourists as they entered the downtown area.

One local blog described the scene: “Antisemites in Heraklion were waiting for a cruise ship with Israeli tourists just to unfurl a massive Palestinian flag and to verbally harass Israeli tourists who were simply walking through the city.”

Online footage showed isolated incidents where a few frustrated Israeli tourists responded to the provocations with sarcasm or dismissive gestures. However, some protest groups circulated these brief clip to portray the tourists as aggressive—ignoring the broader context of being confronted and antagonized. As one observer noted, “They selectively edited 1–2 moments out of hours of footage to claim Israeli tourists were behaving in a ‘fascist’ manner. This is deliberate misrepresentation.”

The blogger added: “This is pure hatred. No rational person would leave their job or family just to go harass random people. And yet, this only ever happens to Israelis—never to Russians, Americans, or any other nationality.”

The video of the antisemitic protesters can be viewed here

No official statement was issued by Mano Maritime or the local authorities, suggesting the incident was handled without significant disruption. Local police maintained a visible presence in the city and ensured the safety of visitors throughout the day. 

Despite the protests, the majority of Israeli tourists continued their visits as planned, exploring Heraklion landmarks, enjoying its local cuisine, and shopping in the city center. Many locals continued to show warmth and hospitality, distinguishing themselves from the protestors’ message.