A group of Israeli tourists fled Crete after a a 4 a.m. confrontation on Sunday morning escalated into bottles being thrown, air rifles fired and men following them back to their hotel. A mother reports on her son’s experience with “many Palestinians” entering their hotel with guns and axes, going to floors where Israelis were staying and searching room by room. Her son sent what she described as a farewell message. She said hotel staff tried to help and local police arrived slowly before dispersing the group. Another version of the events:
- A large group of Israeli tourists walked back to their hotel in the early hours of the morning, singing in Hebrew
- In response, a group of men who “looked Muslim” shouted “F- Israel” and “Free Palestine.” The Israelis shouted back.
- Those men arrived at the hotel with reinforcements, throwing glass bottles.
- The lone hotel guard could not contain them. The men entered the hotel, looked for the Israelis and pounded on room doors while members of the group outside threw bottles and fired air rifles. One of the tourists reportedly suffered a head wound.
“My son sent a farewell message”
Israelis who were traveling in Crete said that armed men entered a hotel where they were staying and walked the halls looking for Israelis to harm.
"My son told me that a lot of Palestinians entered the hotel with guns and axes and went up to… pic.twitter.com/PgyVUWnA23
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) July 26, 2026
Some social media commentary condemns the tourists for singing in Hebrew and for shouting back at their attackers. It is not clear to me that the group was actually Palestinian versus Muslim more broadly.
Pew found this spring that 65% of Greeks disliked Israel, though the Greek government just approved an Israeli-led air-defense program. 50% of Greeks hold anti-Jewish stereotypes.
Shortly after October 7th, pro-Hamas rioters went searching for Jews at a Russian airport and went door-to-door inside hotels. And then in 2024, pro-Hamas protestors attempted to breach an Athens hotel that housed Israeli tourists.
I’m here for the “This is bad, BUT…..” comments.
Hmm – The media rhetoric is stirring up the un-educated.
islam is not a religion, but a battle plan.
I know this upsets the educated elite on this site, but it is the truth.
And before we get into the “bad, BUTs…”, replace Israeli with Black and Hebrew with Rap and ask yourself how you (and the media) would have responded.
Michael Mainello — you’re absolutely right…let the idiots who disagree speak up
Waiting for 1990 and others to remark that it was an acceptable armed struggle against those “horrible singers”……..
Don’t be concerned, perhaps they are simply “anti-Zionists” who got a little over excited .
“It is not clear to me that the group was actually Palestinian versus Muslim more broadly.”
I don’t think people from Israel are going to confuse Palestinians with Albanians or Pakistanis.
In Greece, those who do stupid things are called ‘malakas’… any Greeks here to confirm?
Hard to believe that smart frequent flyers can be anti Semitic.
@ Michael — “Islam is not a religion”. Did you check your “facts” before posting?
Men “looked Muslim”? What did those claiming they “looked Muslim” do: check out their genitals for a circumcision check?
A lot of people who “look Muslim” in the eyes of anti-Muslim racists aren’t Muslim.
The sandNAGGERS are envious that the Jews have done more with their land in 80 years than the NAGGERS have done in 8000.
@Gene – islam is the religion of pieces. Enough said.
Prove me wrong.
This is crazy, seen this in other places targeting Jews and Christians.
Horrific what is happening.
@GUWonder — The real question… did their baklava have pistachios, or not? That’s the ‘tell.’
@Principal Lewis — Woah, easy, teach! That was dangerously close…
There is no point to feeding the trolls, but Gary reported on the event, and feel I should record that I consider this sort of behavior non Islamic and should be condemned. Just as I have been advised by Jews that the treatment of Palestinians in Israel is non Jewish. On the other hand, if it had been a group of African Americans singing rap, no one would have been stupid enough to take them on.
@ 1990 — Just remember “”You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught.”
@jack the ladd – “I consider this sort of behavior non Islamic” & “advised by Jews that the treatment of Palestinians in Israel is non Jewish”
Are you trying to be funny or just ignorant? Are you and @Gene releated?
Just do some research and see how violent islamists and palestinians are. Or at least non-demoninational terrorists that commit violence hiding under these names.
Fascinating and very illuminating that 1990 takes a pass once again on anything related to Israel / Jews. His nonsensical childspeak (say something without saying something) is a clever dodge on weighing in with anything real. Which itself is the proof point that he sees absolutely nothing wrong with what the religion of peace crowd did in this story. He’s a NYC Mamdani type who 100% supports the violence against Jewish people.
@jack the ladd — Whether you feed them, or not, they’ll be here, regardless. Gary must know that; especially these specific topics. (Excellent engagement bait. Like, top-tier. *chef’s kiss*) Personally, I think mocking and satire is best for such occasions, because there is no good-faith (pun-intended) debate to be had here. (“Just do some research”… ^this freakin’ guy… psh.)
@Michael Mainello—what about the horrific violence from the crazed Israeli settlers in the West Bank? There is no comparison.
@Robert – please give me an example I can research. If you talking Oct 7th, then the attack instigated by the palestians of defenseless Israelis is not an example.
Did you know that muslims can worship, have a job and even serve in the government if they are citizens. Can Jews do any of that in palestine?
@1990 – I see you are using the lazy person argument. Why think and question your position when you are morally supior. You are the party of the DSA – Democrats – The Party of (never filled) Promises (and lies).
@Michael Mainello — *yawn*
Thought the Democratic National Convention was later this year.
Antisemitism is pure evil. Islamaphobia is pure evil.
@1990 – I am shocked you put that much effort into a response, way to go.
You should let your AI bot answer, it is more entertaining and intelligent.
Bee boop
@Jeffrey Dhedouville – ignorance will get you hurt. islam is a battle plan masquerading as a religion.
@Michael Mainello — You know me… ‘guys, I’m super cereal.’ Wait. Is this that Shakira law we’ve been worrying about the whole time?? Oof. That ouzo doesn’t lie.
Two observations here:
– The title of the post reflects the (often intentional) conflation of Jews and Israel. Nowhere in the original post characterized the attack as being on “Jews”. Instead, the group being attacked was consistently characterized as “Israelis”. The attacks occurred because they were Israelis, not because they were Jews. Anti-Israeli, in whatever manner, is NOT the same as Anti-Jew (which is antisemitism). Israel supporters often intentionally conflate these two to condemn criticism and attack (both verbal and physical) on Israel as anti-semitism, as that carries a stigma in the West and has been used to silence criticism of the actions of the state of Israel against Palestinians and other Arab neighbors.
– If the roles of the attackers and the Israelis were reversed, would it have engendered the same level or manner of coverage here? I suspect not. I have never seen an article on this blog that exposes the actions of Israelis on the travel privileges or experiences (or lack thereof) of Gazans or any other Arab group (since this is a travel related blog). What the attackers did to the Israelis objectively pales in comparison to what the Israelis have done to Palestinians, every day, day after day, for the past 70+ years.
These observations are based on facts, not opinions.
@Robert — Yup. (Doesn’t matter, though. Gary’s got clicks to get. And, other folks got agendas to push. Turns out, the saying should have been ‘feelings don’t care about facts.’ So, like I said earlier, best to just smoke ‘em if you got ‘em, because probably no minds are being changed here.)
@Robert – please cite some examples. Israel has bent over backwards to include giving up land. Multiple times they have received up to 98% of what they demanded but turned down a peace aggreement.
How come can worship, have a job and even serve in the government if they are citizens. Can Jews do any of that in palestine?
If we’re going to engage in stereotypes how about the old joke “How do they separate the men from the boys in Greece? With a crowbar.”
@Michael Mainello — No citations needed. Besides, ‘it’s all Greek to you,’ anyways.
@Dave — As long as they say ‘no-homo,’ it doesn’t count. /s
@1990 – Typical why provide facts when you can just spew feces.
Democrats – The Party of (never filled) Promises (and lies).
The bigotry/racism/etc. being posted here is bad enough but the fact Gary allows it to sit here openly is actually worse.
A website’s standards are defined by what it chooses to enforce. If hate speech, etc. is allowed to fester, the message is clear: it’s acceptable. This is how websites decline, not because a few people post garbage, but because people like Gary allow it to stand.
I’m not even going to bother retorting to the bigots and racists here.
@Michael Mainello — ‘Good, good… let the hate flow through you…’
@jacobin777 — You’re not wrong, but you must know by now that Gary posts an Israeli-related travel article what seems like once-a-week, perhaps, because he really, genuinely wants to cover the topic, or, because it’s engagement bait. You must also see that it’s basically the same reactions, bad-faith talking-points, bigotry, satire, etc. I’ve rarely seen Gary micro-manage any comment section on this site, ever; maybe the worst I’ve ever seen is when, I think it was @NotScott literally used the n-word, hard-r. So, it could always be worse. If it’s too much for you, please do stay out of the mud.
@1990 – No hate, that is your domain with regards to freedom and America. My observations are educated thru education and experience. You sir are living a fantasy.
@jacobin777 – you are either blissfully ignorant or a troll for the invaders. Do some actual research, islam is a battleplan for the takeover of the world thru deception and violence.
@Michael Mainello — *circus music* Ah, so you are the serious one… *circus music intensifies*
@1990 – Yep you are the cool one. Elect my party we will give you free stuff, free stuff. Orangeman bad, free stuff, free stuff.
@1990
As you said “because it’s engagement bait” – more clicks the better for some, reputation be damned.
What if one starts posting an anti-Semitic diatribe, would that be allowed and/or tolerated?
Regardless, name calling, bigotry, etc. basically is a reflection of one’s lack of intellectual and moral compass. Personally, “I stay away” (Alice In Chains) from the ignorant and immature child mud-slinging
@1990:
Apropos, too bad there isn’t a “mute” button. Would love to mute a bunch of people here.
@jacobin777 – Yep you libs love free speech when it is an echo chamber.
Do some research, learn the opposing point of view. I have learned a couple of things from @1990. You on the other hand appear to be an agent for islamic domination.
Just another chapter in the book titled, “God loves me so much that I get to hate you.” Available on newsstands everywhere.
@InLA – another ignorant liberal. Bless your heart.
@jacobin777 — The ‘mute’ button is to set VFTW emails to ‘spam,’ and check-in manually, viewing articles and comments that you want to engage with. Yes, I agree that there’s selective enforcement of outrage on here, but for the most part any outrage is entirely performative, regardless.
Case in point… @Michael Mainello, why’s everyone so worked up about hummus? (@jack the ladd, that’s right, I’m back to my lame ole bit, again)
@1990 – I wish it was just hummus. The evidence that your party is only about power is how they ignore what are allegedly their core principles. islam subjugates women as second class citizens. It kills gay people and those that convert or even say anything against their pedophile prophet. . Just do a little research on the quoran. Your party may be able to control them after you get in power, but something tells me it will be a terrible place to live.
@Michael Mainello — So, just to clarify, we, the good, straight, conservative, God-fearing, wealthy, capitalist, white men, who support the President, personally, not necessarily all aspects of the Constitution (2nd Amendment is really great, though), are supposed to be fearful of other people, religions, cultures, ethnicities, nationalities, races, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic ideologies? I just want to be clear, because, that’s a lot of fear to have to manage at the same time. I mean, it has been done, it can be done, it probably will be done again, but, like, good to set the right expectations. Sorry, I mean, the far-right expectations.
@1990 – Hey cool one, master liar. I never said anything about white people, I talked about your lack of principles. I talked about your lack character. I talked about your willingness to accept abhorrent behavior to amass power.
I never said anything against homosexual lifestyle or nationalities. I did point out that islam supports the opposite of your party’s platform so you can amass power.
I don’t believe islam is a religion. Read the quoron. You won’t change your mind because you want power. At least educate yourself.
The Constitution is a great document.
Your willingness to ignore your principles and flat out lie is shameful.
@1990
Most of the people here are actually intelligent and simply discuss the topic at hand. A few intellectually inferior mongrels here have an incessant need to devolve into bigotry, racism, etc.
As I said, they aren’t the problem, its the forum moderator. This is why I actually post less here now.
I’ll catch up on the news and that’s about it.
@jacobin777 – “devolve into bigotry, racism, etc.” After asking for help from some more intelligent people than me, they told me I was one of the “inferior mongrels” you were writing about.
First thanks for re-enforcing the liberal stereotype. You know the one that believes in free speech that only they agree with, no dissenting facts allowed.
Secondly, please explain my “bigotry & racism”?
@jacobin777 — Oh, yeah, these days, it’s a near complete absence of any moderation. At best, it’s self-moderation, as-in, someone taking the literal time to debunk each and every absurdity, which, I think we agree, that juice is not worth the squeeze, many times.
@Michael Mainello — So, about that whole ‘First Amendment’-thing, the freedom to practice any religion (or no religion at all), you aim to get around that by calling the religions you disagree with ‘not’-religions. Clever. Still, won’t work, eventually, but that is indeed a somewhat novel idea. Or is it? What other plans/vision do you have for ‘getting rid’ of all our so-called-‘problems,’ sir? And, once those ‘problems’ are ‘gone,’ ‘who’ will be the next ‘problems,’ so we can set ‘expectations’ properly…
@1990 – I know you really aren’t stupid, but good job to continue to skew what I am saying. Let me educate you. islam can call itself a religion – who cares. However, once they break our laws is where I have a problem. Understand they kill people that try to leave the religion. They kill people that disagree with their religious text. They kill people that are homosexuals. Their women are second class / inferior. Their bible preaches hate, elimination of other religions thru any means necessary and world domination. If you are OK with that or think I am being overly dramatic, well you are that dense.
You believe in power at all costs, without any guiding principles. I pray you wake up and see the light some day.
@Michael Mainello — Really? Yet, I’m told, near-hourly on this blog, by some of your friends, apparently, that I’m a low-IQ, ‘idiot.’ Huh. So, this is what it feels like to be called ‘smart.’ Woah.
As for “(t)heir bible preaches hate”… well, all these ‘books’ can be interpreted that way, sadly. I suppose, Judaism and Christianity are pretty much in lock-step from Genesis through Malachi (it’s not ‘pretty’ in quite a few of those). But, then the New Testament centers on Jesus as the crucified and resurrected Son of God who provides salvation from sin. Whereas, Jewish tradition views Jesus as a historical figure or false teacher, not a prophet or Messiah. And, finally, the Qur’an honors Jesus (Isa) as a major prophet, the Messiah, and born of a virgin, but denies his divinity, divine sonship, and his death by crucifixion. Feels like a ‘game of telephone’ with billions of people going on and on about a fan-fiction; some apparently heard it differently. Personally, I blame Abraham. No, not Lincoln. The one with the sons in the story. Sheesh.
@1990 – Ah the smell of ignorance and denial. Not all religions are created equal, but keep telling yourself that.
@Michael Mainello — Bud, I’m not particularly ‘religious’ or ‘spiritual,’ personally. But, as is our tradition, I try my best to ‘tolerate’ others sincerely-held-beliefs, so long as they do not harm myself or others. Now, I’ve seen, historically, how any and all religions can be manipulated to abuse others. So, before we start singling any one of them out, we may need to hold our own accountable.
Anyone with a conscience can see how a ‘mob invading a hotel’ and ‘chasing’ anyone out with ‘weapons’ is likely an illegal form of eviction, assault, etc., if not also a hate-crime. But, does that mean we scapegoat an entire group? Nah, that’d be too far.
The individuals breaking laws should be prosecuted in accordance with whatever laws are alleged to have been violated. Now, this supposedly happened in Greece, so the local authorities probably have gotten on that, but, who knows; maybe the Greeks are soft-on-crime, like those evil Dem… bah! (See, that one was for you!)
For real, I don’t think anyone here really was focused on the actual incident, so much as it provided an opening for expressing their outrage and preformed talking-points. Lookie, Gary already has a new post related to immigration out today, so we can drift over there and keep it up.
@1990:
“At best, it’s self-moderation, as-in, someone taking the literal time to debunk each and every absurdity,”
Are you saying that if I post some anti-Semitic diatribe it will not be deleted?
@jacobin777 – I am just waiting for you debunk 1 point, but that takes work.
@jacobin777 — I don’t think more antisemitism or islamophobia will ‘help’ anyone or anything.
@1990:
That’s not my point however, only that if my post would be deleted if I went off on an idiotical anti-Semitic diatribe.