Protest held outside presidential palace during Herzog visit

Nicosia, Cyprus. A demonstration was held without incident outside the presidential palace late on Thursday afternoon to protest the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Organised by the Cyprus Peace Council and other anti-war groups, the protest drew a crowd of a few dozen people.

Demonstration outside presidential palace

Waving Palestinian flags, demonstrators gathered at the wall outside the presidential palace, where President Nikos Christodoulides hosted Herzog.

A modest police presence was deployed at the scene, and no incidents were reported.

Organisers’ objections

The Cyprus Peace Council had described Herzog’s 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 members of the public to attend and “send a strong message” that Herzog was not welcome in Cyprus.

Demonstrators held placards reading: “Complicit in genocide – resign” and “Stand up for Palestine.”

Statement to protesters

In a statement read during the protest, a speaker said: “Every time Cyprus rolls out the red carpet to welcome the political leadership of Israel, blood flows under our feet.

“A leadership that no longer receives official invitations, except for arrest warrants. It comes and goes at the presidential palace of the Republic as if it’s right at home, offending every Cypriot man and woman.”

The speaker added: “In response to those who place strategic interests, and raw force, above international law, solidarity and the rule of law, we say that Israel does not care about Cyprus; Israel does not care about a settlement of the Cyprus problem, and moreover it will never liberate Cyprus.”