ATHENS, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Greece has witnessed on Sunday a wave of pro-Palestine protests rejecting Israeli occupation policies, with dozens of events organized across the country under the slogan National Day of Action for Palestine.
According to reports by Greek media and protest organizers, the events covered at least 91 locations, including the capital Athens and the city of Thessaloniki, along with several islands and tourist areas, such as Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos, Corfu, and Zakynthos.
Central demonstration in Athens
The main demonstration took place in Athens at seven pm in Monastiraki Square, while other areas around the capital hosted protest events, including Victoria Square, Haidari, Porto Rafti, and Palaia Fokaia.
The surroundings of the city of Thessaloniki witnessed a protest gathering near the statue of Eleftherios Venizelos at 7.30 pm.
The events are spread across several well-known islands and tourist destinations, including Rhodes, Kos, and Mykonos, along with Crete, Corfu, Zakynthos, Naxos, Tinos, Samos, Lesbos, and others.
Demands to change Athens policy toward Israel
Pro-Palestine organizations participated in organizing and supporting the movements, including the BDS Greece movement, the March to Gaza Greece organization, and the Palestinian Community in Greece.
Protest organizers raised demands for the Greek government to change its policy toward Israel, including stopping military cooperation between the two sides, imposing an arms embargo, and imposing sanctions on it.
Demands also included re-imposing entry visas on Israelis, along with investigating Israeli soldiers and military personnel entering Greece, under the grounds of potential involvement of some in war crimes, according to what protest organizers present.
Support from leftist parties and organizations
The leftist organization ANTARSYA announced its support for the movements and called on its supporters to participate in them, criticizing security and military relations between Athens and Tel Aviv, as well as deals to purchase Israeli weapons systems by Greece.
The anticipated movements come amid the continuation of close strategic and security relations between Israel and Greece, coinciding with growing pro-Palestine activity inside the country.
Organizers of the National Day of Action for Palestine hope to regain the momentum of protests witnessed by Greece last summer, when demonstrations and events took place in various cities and islands across the country.
Israeli warning to its citizens
The Israeli Foreign Ministry warned its citizens residing in Greece of the necessity to remain cautious and avoid any behavior that might reveal their identity, amid expectations of mass anti-Israel demonstrations organized across the country.
The Foreign Ministry said in a special travel warning that the expected size of demonstrations and the potential occurrence of large gatherings and riots require exercising extra caution, staying away from demonstration sites and large gatherings, and avoiding any friction or confrontation with protesters.
It recommended Israelis keep symbols identifying them as Israelis and Jews unnoticeable, and avoid posting their real-time locations via social media.
The warning comes amid the presence of large numbers of Israeli tourists in Greece, which is considered a main tourist destination during peak season.
According to data from the Israeli Airports Authority, about 50 flights are scheduled to depart Sunday from Ben Gurion Airport heading to Greece.
