Man suspected of being a Hamas terrorist taken into custody in Greece for an alleged plan involving a cruise ship

Suspected Hamas Terrorist Arrested in Greece

Greek police have detained a suspected Hamas member accused of plotting an attack against an Israeli cruise ship. This individual, a 37-year-old man from Gaza, was arrested on Sunday on the island of Crete.

The suspect reportedly has connections to one of four Hamas operatives who were taken into custody earlier in Cyprus. It’s alleged that he traveled to Malaysia with these suspects to learn how to create explosives using easily accessible chemicals.

The cruise ship in question, the MS Crown Iris, was expected to dock in Crete on Tuesday, and police initially did not reveal the suspect’s identity or the intended target.

During searches in Crete and Athens, authorities discovered numerous mobile devices, laptops, external hard drives, and bank cards, according to reports.

In connection with broader regional security measures, two Palestinians were arrested in Cyprus on May 22, following leads that suggested they had access to materials for making explosives. Additionally, two more individuals were apprehended in Greece on May 29 as part of a related investigation.

The Crown Iris has drawn significant attention and protest in Greek ports, particularly due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Demonstrators have gathered around the ship during its visits since last year, expressing their outrage over what they perceive as profiting from the conflict through tourism services offered to soldiers.

Looking back, in July 2025, tensions escalated when Greek police used tear gas to disperse a crowd attempting to block a ship in Agios Nikolaos, Crete. Now, the suspect, an electrician who has lived in Crete for the past year—working in a local hotel—will appear before a magistrate on Sunday.

Authorities have indicated that the suspect ordered materials online that could be used for explosive creation, along with equipment typically found in labs.