Groups call for sanctions and boycott of Israel during Nicosia protest

A protest took place Wednesday morning outside the "Doing Business with Israel" conference, organized by Invest Cyprus in Nicosia.

The demonstration was led by organizations including United for Palestine Cyprus, AFOA, ANATROPI, NEDA, Far Right Watch, Genocide Free Cyprus, Diem25, and the Initiative Against the Fascist Threat.

Protesters held banners in Greek and English, chanting in support of Palestinians and condemning Israel's actions in Gaza. They also called on the Republic of Cyprus to end its cooperation with Israel.

In a statement, the organizers said, “The complicity in the genocide of Palestinians is essentially the official policy of the current government, though it is rarely questioned by mainstream media.”

They emphasized that the protest was "strictly non-violent" and aimed to challenge the government to either cease all business, military, and trade relations with Israel or explain why complicity in genocide serves humanity's interests, both in Cyprus and abroad.

The organizers are demanding a halt to all commercial agreements with Israel, sanctions, boycotts, and the end of Cyprus's use of its ports, airports, and airspace for military support to Israel.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Marcos Oikonomou of United for Palestine Cyprus criticized the Cypriot government’s shift since 2011, accusing it of forming military, economic, and geopolitical ties, especially regarding Eastern Mediterranean hydrocarbons, making Cyprus complicit in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

“The least the government could do is end all military and economic alliances with Israel,” Oikonomou said. Instead, he noted, “they seek to intensify cooperation, particularly in exploiting hydrocarbons.”

He also mentioned the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project, calling it an attempt by Israel to dominate the region, and urged Cyprus to cut ties with such initiatives.

[Information sourced from CNA]