In a statement, BDS Greece highlighted that “the cultural boycott is one of many tools available to citizens to express their solidarity with the people of Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria who are experiencing the war crimes of the state of Israel.”
The Israeli embassy expressed its “strong annoyance” at the festival’s decision but failed to gain support when it called for condemnation of the move. This outcome is being seen as a testament to the effectiveness of grassroots mobilisation, with BDS Greece crediting the success to the combined efforts of various local organisations and bodies. These include the Association of Administrative Staff of the University of the Aegean, A ELME of Cyclades, the Union of Employees at OTE (Cyclades Branch), the Union of Civil Servants of Higher Education Graduate Schools (EMDYDAS), and the Association of Employees of Decentralized Administration of the Aegean (S.Erg.A.D.A.), among others. Local artists, cultural groups, and citizens from across the country also joined in support.
The cancellation comes at a critical juncture, with the Greek and Cypriot governments recently endorsing a UN General Assembly resolution demanding the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Palestinian territories and proposing sanctions in cases of non-compliance. BDS Greece emphasised that the cultural boycott plays an essential role in this broader movement for justice, describing it as a “tool available to citizens to express their solidarity.”
BDS Greece also stressed the pivotal role of cultural figures in amplifying the message, urging Greek artists and creators to refuse any collaboration with the Israeli state. “The voice of the cultural community carries multiplier effects,” the organisation stated. “For this reason, BDS Greece once again calls on all Greek artists and creators to refrain from any collaboration with a state that carries out genocide while at the same time using culture as a tool to cover up its crimes (artwashing).”
“We have sent a small but powerful message to the Palestinian people that we stand with them,” BDS Greece concluded. “Let’s all strive to make that message even stronger in the coming days.”
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