The Cyprus Peace Council (CPC) announced a demonstration to express opposition to Cyprus being used as a base to support military operations in Gaza.
The protest will take place on Sunday, January 14 at 11 a.m. at the British bases in Akrotiri.
The protest calls upon citizens to join in condemning the aerial attacks facilitated by the British bases, which are allegedly being used to transport military equipment for Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip.
“We call on everyone to join the demonstration to condemn the air strikes being carried out from the British bases to transport war material to support the Israeli army’s operations in the Gaza Strip. We convey the message that we are struggling to make Cyprus a bridge of peace and cooperation between the peoples. The Cypriot people do not want British military bases in their country. They represent a constant danger to our country and to the peoples of the region. That is precisely why we demand their closure,” an announcement said.
Furthermore, the organisers express condemnation for the presence of the American army in Cyprus and decry the transformation of the island into what they describe as a potential war zone.
They say: “Together we demand an end to the involvement of Cyprus through the British bases in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.
“We demand an immediate and full ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“We demand an end to the genocide of the Palestinian people, an end to the occupation and colonisation of Palestine by the State of Israel.
“We demand freedom for Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, as stipulated in the relevant resolutions of the UN.
“We demand that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus at long last demands explanations to be given regarding the military activities of the British bases and that it express in practice its solidarity with the Palestinian people”.
A report by Declassified UK has claimed that the UK’s airbase in Akrotiri, Limassol, has facilitated over 30 military transport flights to Tel Aviv since the start of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the airbase has seen more than 40 US transport aircraft, 20 British transport aircraft, and seven transport helicopters flying in with cargo from US and NATO depots.
Facing questions from British MPs, enquiring whether Akrotiri is being used to send arms or military equipment to Israel, UK Defence Minister Defence James Heappey refused to comment stating, “The Ministry of Defence does not comment on information about allies’ operations.”
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has also denied that Cyprus is being used as a base to supply Israel with military equipment.
The UK High Commission in Cyprus also denied the allegations.
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