Greece has lodged a formal protest with Israeli authorities after a delegation of Greek trade union representatives was barred from entering Israel and deported, despite having fulfilled all entry requirements and declared the purpose of their visit.
The Greek Foreign Ministry said on 21 June that the delegation, travelling to Ramallah at the invitation of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), was denied entry and expelled. The ministry expressed displeasure at the decision.
📌Announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the denial of entry of Greek citizens to Israel (21.06.2026)
— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) June 21, 2026
The delegation was detained for several hours at Tel Aviv Airport before being deported. Its members were Vangelis Kitsonis, President of the Panhellenic Union ICAP Outsourcing Solutions; Panagiota Lazaropoulou, President of the National Bank Employees’ Association; Antonis Ntalakogeorgos, President of PENEN, the Panhellenic Union of Merchant Navy Sailors; Nikos Pelekoudas, President of SEFK, a sectoral union of private education workers; and Michalis Rizos, a board member of the Attikon Hospital Workers’ Union.
Dr Michalis Rizos said all members of the delegation had the necessary documentation. “In essence our deportation confirms — they told us point blank — that the area is under military occupation, that the army has absolute control, and that under what is essentially martial law it bars visits by anyone showing solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian people, from whatever country or state they come,” Rizos said. “We will continue our struggle, we will strengthen our solidarity. Palestine and the Intifada will prevail.”
The PGFTU strongly condemned the deportation, describing the treatment of the delegation — which it said was subjected to interrogation and prolonged detention — as a violation of trade union freedoms and international law. The federation called on the EU, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and international human rights organisations to condemn the practices and pressure Israeli authorities to end what it described as violations against international delegations.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also condemned the move as an arbitrary and unlawful measure that violates international law and trade union freedoms.
The deportees are holding a press conference on Monday 22 June at 12:00 in Athens.