Greece Arrests 37-Year-Old Gaza Man Over Plot Against Israeli Cruise Ship
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 7
Greece Arrests 37-Year-Old Gaza Man Over Plot Against Israeli Cruise Ship
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 7
Summary
Greek police arrested a 37-year-old Gaza man on Crete on Sunday over an alleged plot targeting the Israeli cruise ship MS Crown Iris before its scheduled Tuesday arrival.
Investigators say he had ties to suspects arrested in Cyprus, traveled with one to Malaysia for explosives training, and ordered chemical agents online that could be used to make bombs.
Searches in Crete and Athens seized mobile phones, a laptop, hard drives and bank cards, while Greek and Israeli media said police also found laboratory equipment.
The arrest appears tied to a wider regional counterterrorism probe after Cyprus detained four Palestinian suspects between May 22 and May 29 over materials allegedly usable for explosives.
The Crown Iris has repeatedly drawn Gaza-war protests at Greek ports since last year, including demonstrations in Piraeus this week and clashes in Crete in July 2025.
How did an asylum-seeking electrician become a key suspect in a global Hamas terror plot?
With plots foiled in Greece and Cyprus, is the Mediterranean becoming Europe's new terror frontline?
Foiled Hamas Plot in Crete: How Greek and Cypriot Intelligence Stopped a Planned Attack on Israeli Cruise Ship MS Crown Iris (June 2026)
Overview
On June 6, 2026, Greek authorities in Crete arrested a 37-year-old Palestinian man, believed to be a Hamas terrorist, who was allegedly planning an attack on the Israeli cruise ship MS Crown Iris. This arrest was part of a larger regional counterterrorism investigation that had already led to the detention of other Palestinian suspects in Cyprus. The investigation revealed connections between the suspects and uncovered materials for making explosives, showing that the plot was advancing. The swift, coordinated actions by Greek and Cypriot authorities prevented a potential attack and highlighted the importance of international intelligence cooperation in countering such threats.