Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the British Bases in Akrotiri, Cyprus, on Sunday, calling for an end to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and southern Lebanon, and demanding the withdrawal of British military bases from Cyprus.
During the demonstration, organized by the Cyprus Peace Council and supported by various political parties and movements, participants marched to the ?ases’ entrance, chanting slogans such as ‘Freedom for Palestine’ and ‘Out with the Bases of Death.’
A British Bases spokesperson said in a written statement that ‘no RAF flights have transported lethal cargo to the Israeli Defence Forces’, adding that the Bases were being used solely for humanitarian purposes and any flights authorized for foreign nations must align with this policy.
Speaking during the demonstration, representative of the Cyprus Peace Council Peter Joseph, denounced Israeli military actions as “genocidal” and criticized the US, the UK, and EU for supporting Israel. He accused the British Bases of serving as a “war
staging ground” in the region, citing over 60 military flights from Cyprus to Israel since the start of the conflict.
Haris Karamanos from AKEL leftist party further denounced Israel’s actions as war crimes and emphasized the “lack of respect” to international law. Meanwhile, Markos Oikonomou, from the United for Palestine Cyprus organization, claimed that the Cypriot government’s military agreements with Israel contradict any neutral stance that Nicosia claims to hold in the conflict.
In response, the British Bases spokesperson expressed concern about the escalating violence in Lebanon and Gaza.
‘We are deeply concerned by the rising tensions and civilian casualties in Lebanon. The UK is calling for an immediate ceasefire from both sides so that we can reach the political settlement that’s required,’ the spokesperson said in the statement, stressing the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law.
‘We are working in lockstep with our allies to deescalate tensions and urge all parties to end
the destructive cycle of retaliatory violence,’ the statement added.
The spokesperson denied accusations that the British Bases were involved in transporting military supplies to Israel. ‘No RAF flights have transported lethal cargo to the Israeli Defence Forces’, the spokesperson noted, adding that the bases were being used solely for humanitarian purposes and any flights authorized for foreign nations must align with this policy.
‘Along with our neighbours and trusted partner, the Republic of Cyprus, we continue to take the security of the island most seriously. There is no change to the current threat to the SBA’s or the island of Cyprus as a result of the ongoing situation but we continue to monitor this carefully and cooperate and communicate closely with the Republic of Cyprus on this matter,’ the spokesperson added
Finally, he urged all sides to remain calm and focus on achieving a negotiated political solution.
Source: Cyprus News Agency