Anti-war groups to protest Israeli President Herzog’s Cyprus visit

Nicosia, Cyprus. The Cyprus Peace Council and other anti-war organisations will hold a protest outside the presidential palace on Thursday against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Cyprus. The demonstration is scheduled to begin at 6.30pm.

Protest call

Herzog will make a one-day visit to Cyprus at the invitation of President Nikos Christodoulides.

The Cyprus Peace Council described the visit as a “huge provocation”, citing Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as its campaigns in Lebanon, Syria and Iran.

The organisers called on the public to attend and “send a strong message” that Herzog is not welcome in Cyprus.

Cyprus problem concerns

The organisations also said closer ties between Cyprus and Israel undermine efforts to resume substantive negotiations on the Cyprus problem and could affect national security.

Presidential meetings

According to the Israeli presidency, Herzog and Christodoulides will discuss “deepening cooperation and strengthening ties between Israel and Cyprus”. A bilateral meeting involving both delegations will follow.

The visit continues contacts between the two presidents after Christodoulides travelled to Israel in December 2025 and met Herzog in Jerusalem.

Previous demonstration

The Cyprus Peace Council has previously organised protests against Herzog’s visits. Around 400 activists demonstrated outside the presidential palace during his visit to Cyprus in January 2025, chanting “killer go home” as he departed.