Hundreds of protesters gather as several large Palestinian flags are waved and demonstrators chant pro-Palestinian slogans during a rally in Athens, Greece on August 9, 2026. The demonstration at Monastiraki Square was part of a nationwide day of action in Greece calling for solidarity with Palestinians and an end to the war in Gaza. Daniel Yovkov / Hans Lucas via Reuters Connect

Greece was placed on heightened alert Sunday as pro-Palestinian activist networks staged dozens of demonstrations nationwide, raising fears of possible attacks or confrontations targeting Jewish and Israeli visitors during the peak summer tourist season.

A coalition of pro-Palestinian organizations had called for a nationwide “day of rage” over the war in Gaza, organizing demonstrations in dozens of locations across Greece, including Athens, Thessaloniki, the Greek islands and other popular destinations frequented by Israeli tourists.

Ahead of the planned protests, the Israeli Foreign Ministry urged Jews and Israelis in the country to exercise heightened caution, avoid protest areas and refrain from publicly displaying signs of their Israeli or Jewish identity.

Among the anti-Israel groups organizing the demonstrations was BDS Greece, the local branch of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel, which vowed to “fill the entire country with Palestinian flags, keffiyehs, and slogans.”

“Wherever you are on August 9, raise the flag, wear the keffiyeh, distribute informational material, and send the message,” the group wrote in a post on Facebook.

“It’s been more than 1,000 days of genocide in Gaza, while in the West Bank, occupation, attacks, and the seizure of Palestinian land continue,” the statement reads.

BDS Greece called on the Greek government to impose an arms embargo and sanctions on Israel, halt all military cooperation between the two countries, revoke visa-free entry for Israeli citizens, conduct background checks on Israeli reservists and deny “safe haven” to individuals they accuse of war crimes.

Amid expectations of large-scale demonstrations and potential unrest, Israeli officials urged visitors to Greece to remain especially vigilant, avoid protest areas and large gatherings, and steer clear of confrontations with demonstrators.

The advisory also urged Israelis to “keep a low profile” when displaying Israeli or Jewish symbols and to take precautions that could reduce their visibility during the demonstrations.

“It is recommended to keep Israeli and Jewish identifying symbols discreet and to avoid posting your location in real time on social media,” the statement read.

Officials also called on Israeli citizens in Greece to keep track of local media and official announcements, stay abreast of developments and comply with directives from Greek security forces.

The demonstrations coincided with the height of Greece’s summer tourist season, when large numbers of Israeli vacationers travel to the country’s cities and islands. According to Israel Airports Authority data, nearly 50 flights were scheduled to depart Ben-Gurion Airport for Greece on Sunday alone.

Videos circulating on social media from different parts of Greece showed large crowds waving Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyehs, with demonstrators chanting slogans and holding banners reading “Zionists not welcome here” and “no to genocide,” while other chants included “It is not self-defense, it is genocide” and “from Havana to Tehran, let NATO and Americans be defeated.”

So far, no major incidents targeting Israelis or Jews have been reported, and the demonstrations have not caused significant disruptions.