Jerusalem: President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, currently on a working visit in Israel, expressed the support of the Cypriot people and himself to the families of hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
According to Cyprus News Agency, during a meeting in Jerusalem with members of two hostage families, President Christodoulides stated, “we know very well how you feel because we too went through a similar experience in Cyprus and we continue to face this humanitarian drama.” He emphasized solidarity and explored possibilities for assistance, asserting that “all hostages must be released immediately.”
President Christodoulides highlighted that one of his main objectives for visiting Israel is to explore how Cyprus can contribute to resolving the crisis. He expressed hope for positive news regarding the hostages’ release and assured that if progress is not made, Cyprus will prioritize this issue during its EU Presidency to ensure necessary actions are taken.
The relatives shared their harrowing experiences and appealed for assistance from the President, the Republic of Cyprus, and the EU for their loved ones’ release. The President’s office noted this in a press release.
Additionally, President Christodoulides expressed his sentiments on ‘X’, stating, “no parent and no family member should endure the ordeal the families of hostages have been going through the past 576 days.” He reiterated the need for the immediate release of all remaining hostages, underscoring the empathy and understanding of the Cypriot people.