Activists, members of the youth group of left-wing New Left – Νέα Αριστερά – climbed to the rock of the Acropolis on Wednesday morning to raise a big Palestinian flag in solidarity with the people in Gaza.
The action took place as protests protests against the crimes of the Israeli government are intensifying in Greece our country with the support of the peace movement.
However, police forces were quick and detained 15 members of the youth branch of New Left and took them to Greek Police headquarters, where still remain in the afternoon.
This incident has triggered sharp reaction form the New Left MPs and members who demand the immediate release of the detainees.
“The struggle for peace and solidarity in Palestine is not a crime, it is a right and an obligation – Those arrested should be released,” the New Left party said in a complaint, calling for the immediate release of the 15 arrested, including the secretary of the New Left Youth.
Μέλη της Νεολαίας Νέας Αριστεράς πραγματοποίησαν ακτιβισμό στης Ακρόπολη με προσαγωγές από την αστυνομία.#StoptheGenocide #Παλαιστινη
28-5-25 pic.twitter.com/79F9ohuiZc— lolos marios (@lolosmarios) May 28, 2025
According to some media, the activists believe that in addition to the fact that there is a pro-Israeli policy by the Greek conservative government, an attempt is being made to equate the commercialization of the Acropolis for tourist purposes with politicization, exhausting the severity towards youth who demonstrate for peace and express their solidarity with the Palestinian people.
They recalled that the images with the Acropolis in the background and luminous drones in the shape of a well-known company’s sports shoe two weeks ago.
The party’s executives and the president of the New Left, Alexis Charitsis, are calling for the release of the activists who, in the context of the peace and ceasefire movement, protested about the events in Gaza and the genocide of Palestinians by Israel.
The Secretary of the Youth of the New Left, George Lykopantis, emphasizes in a post:
“The flag of Palestine is a global symbol of freedom and dignity. At this moment, the Mitsotakis police have proceeded to arrest 15 members of the Youth of the New Left, following an activism we carried out on the historic rock of the Acropolis. The government should know this well. We are not intimidated! The struggle for a free and independent Palestine will grow stronger until our brotherly people live freely in their homeland.”
New Left consists of former left-wing SYRIZA members and MPs who left the party when ex PM Alexis Tsipras brought Stefanos Kasselakis as the new leader.