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What began as a solidarity rally outside Cyprus’ Foreign Ministry on Thursday evening ended in tension, after police and protesters clashed during a demonstration in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
The protest was called at short notice by the Cyprus branch of the Global Gaza Movement, following Israel’s interception of the flotilla earlier this week and the detention of its crew. The convoy of boats had set sail to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, including baby formula, but was stopped in international waters. Among those detained was climate activist Greta Thunberg, along with several Greek citizens.
According to organizers, police arrived at the scene a few minutes after the demonstration began and moved in on protesters, leading to scuffles. They claimed officers used tear gas in what they described as an “unprovoked attack.”
Police denied that account, saying their role was to manage traffic as demonstrators spilled into the road and blocked a lane. “For safety reasons, both lanes were closed for a period,” a police spokesman told local media, adding that he could not confirm or deny reports of tear gas use. The road was reopened by 8 p.m., though a small group of demonstrators remained.
The rally drew support from other organizations, including United for Palestine and the Cyprus Peace Council, with protesters chanting against what they called “genocide in Gaza” and criticizing the stance of the Cypriot government.
A spokesperson for the Global Gaza Movement Cyprus said the protest targeted both Israel and the Cypriot authorities. “Israel has seized the flotilla, taken its crew hostage and branded them terrorists for trying to deliver baby formula to starving people,” the spokesperson said, warning that the detainees could face mistreatment in Israeli prisons.
The group also accused the Cypriot government of failing to support the humanitarian convoy, despite the island’s proximity to Gaza. “The government has not offered even a drop of assistance in case of emergency,” the spokesperson said, adding that more flotilla missions are expected in the future, and Cyprus should be ready to help.
The demonstration outside the Foreign Ministry, they said, was a direct call for Nicosia to shift its stance, condemn Israel’s actions, and take a more active role in aiding humanitarian missions.
