Protests erupt at Akrotiri against Israeli airstrikes and British military bases

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the British Bases in Akrotiri, Cyprus, on Sunday, voicing their opposition to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and southern Lebanon and calling for the withdrawal of British military bases from the island. The demonstration was organized by the Cyprus Peace Council, with support from various political parties and movements.

Demonstrators marched to the entrance of the Bases, chanting slogans such as “Freedom for Palestine” and “Out with the Bases of Death.” Peter Joseph, a representative of the Cyprus Peace Council, labeled Israeli military actions as “genocidal” and criticized the support for Israel from the U.S., U.K., and EU. He accused the British Bases of acting as a “war staging ground,” referencing over 60 military flights from Cyprus to Israel since the outbreak of conflict.

Haris Karamanos, a member of the leftist AKEL party, condemned Israel’s actions as war crimes, emphasizing a “lack of respect” for international law. Markos Oikonomou from the United for Palestine Cyprus organization argued that military agreements between the Cypriot government and Israel contradict Nicosia’s claimed neutrality in the conflict.

In response to the protests, a spokesperson for the British Bases expressed concern over the escalating violence in Lebanon and Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire from both sides. The spokesperson denied any involvement in transporting military supplies to Israel, asserting that no RAF flights had carried lethal cargo and that all flights were strictly for humanitarian purposes.

The spokesperson reiterated the commitment to the security of Cyprus, stating, “There is no change to the current threat to the SBA’s or the island of Cyprus as a result of the ongoing situation.” They urged all parties to remain calm and focus on achieving a negotiated political solution.

[With info from CNA]