A 37-year-old Palestinian man is being held in Greece awaiting trial after authorities accused him of being part of a Hamas-connected network that allegedly planned terrorist attacks against Israeli targets. Greek police also indicated he is under investigation for alleged terrorism-related training conducted abroad.
The man was taken into custody in Crete in early June and has denied all charges against him.
The arrest came out of a joint effort between Greece’s National Intelligence Service and its counterterrorism police unit. During the investigation, authorities searched locations connected to the suspect and recovered mobile phones, a laptop, and hard drives. According to Reuters, investigators found evidence suggesting the man had attempted to buy materials online that could be used to construct explosives, though those materials were never actually delivered to him.
While officials have not publicly identified a specific target, reports drawing on Greek and Cypriot sources indicate investigators are looking into whether an Israeli cruise ship scheduled to dock in Crete may have been the intended target. Euronews reported that the suspected plan appeared to involve Israeli interests and possibly explosives, while noting the investigation remains ongoing.
Greek police have drawn a connection between the Crete arrest and terrorism-related detentions that took place in Cyprus. Reuters reported that individuals detained in Cyprus told investigators their alleged recruiters had discussed carrying out attacks across multiple countries, including Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia. The man arrested in Crete reportedly traveled to Malaysia in 2025 and met with one of the individuals who was later detained in Cyprus.
Both Greek and Cypriot authorities are continuing their investigation into whether those arrested are part of a larger international terror network operating across borders.
