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A suspicion Hamas The terrorist, who was reportedly granted asylum a year after the Gaza war, was arrested by Greek police for allegedly planning an attack on an Israeli cruise line.
The 37-year-old Gazan man was arrested on the Greek island of Crete on Sunday over alleged links to one of four people Suspected Hamas terrorists previously arrested in Cyprus after traveling with him to Malaysia, where they allegedly received training in making explosives from commercially available chemical warfare agents.
The Israeli cruise ship MS Crown Iris was believed to have been the target of the attack before it was due to arrive in Crete on Tuesday. In their initial statement, police did not publicly name the man or specify a destination.
Searches of homes in Crete and the Greek capital Athens found a number of cellphones, a laptop, external hard drives and bank cards, The Associated Press reported.
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A protest Wednesday at the port of Piraeus near Athens, Greece, against the arrival of the Crown Iris cruise ship was the prelude to the arrest of a suspected Hamas terrorist who is said to have been planning an attack. (Costa Baltas/Anadolu)
The suspect, an electrician who has reportedly been living in Crete for a year and working in a hotel there after being granted asylum, will appear before a judge later on Sunday.
According to the report, the suspected terrorist had placed an order online for “chemical warfare agents” that could be used in the manufacture of explosives.
State broadcaster ERT reported, citing Israeli and Greek media, that police also found laboratory equipment.
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The case appears to be part of one broader regional counterterrorism investigation. Cypriot authorities arrested two Palestinians on May 22 after intelligence services alerted investigators to materials in two homes that police said could be used to make explosives. According to Greek police, two other Palestinian men were arrested on May 29 as part of the same investigation.
The crown iris has become a recurring trouble spot in Greek ports Anger over the war in Gaza. Protesters gathered near the ship as it docked in Piraeus on Wednesday, June 3, and demonstrations against the ship have taken place in Greek ports since last year.
Protesters claim that Mano Maritime, the owner of the MS Crown Iris, is profiting from the Hamas-Israel war by selling tourist services to Israel Defense Forces soldiers during breaks from active duty.
In July 2025, Greek police used tear gas and made arrests as protesters attempted to block the ship in Agios Nikolaos, Crete.
Greek security forces were forced to protect Israeli tourists traveling by bus to board the Israeli cruise ship MS Crown Iris at the port of Piraeus in Athens on June 3, 2026. (Dark Angel/AFP)
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The investigation is ongoing and authorities have not announced formal charges against the suspect.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
