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

A large banner emblazoned with the words Stop the Genocide was held aloft alongside Palestinian flags

Hundreds of protesters block an Israeli cruise ship at the port in Syros, Greece. Picture: Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images

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.