Nicosia: A silent protest took place in Nicosia on Thursday for the journalists that were killed during Israeli strikes in Gaza recently.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the protesters, coming from various organizations, including CY Movement to Gaza, United for Palestine Nicosia, Anatropi, and AFOA, held placards with the images of the killed journalists. Matthew Stavrinides, on behalf of Genocide-Free Cyprus (GFC), stated that Israel has continued to target journalists who are on the ground in Gaza, exposing war crimes and genocide.
Referring to Israel’s stance, Stavrinides expressed that they have been silencing journalists and justifying this as military operations against Hamas. He criticized this as propaganda to justify war crimes, noting that hundreds of Palestinian journalists have been killed.
He also criticized the Cyprus government’s and media’s stance for not discussing the events thoroughly, arguing that the Israeli side of the story is given more clarity over Palestinian voices. Stavrinides emphasized the persistence of the Palestinian movement in Cyprus despite challenging times.
He stated that the government should not continue its political, economic, and military ties with a state under investigation by the ICC for war crimes. He accused the Christodoulides government of being complicit in silencing dissent regarding the government’s complicity.
Stavrinides highlighted the worsening situation in Gaza, noting that Palestinians are starving and journalists remain targeted. He called for the government to acknowledge the situation as genocide rather than a conflict to justify ties with Israel.
He further claimed that Cyprus plays a central role in the genocide, mentioning weapons transfers through the ports and the use of British bases for operations aiding Israel’s regime.