THE government yesterday called for the immediate termination of acts of violence in Gaza and use of disproportionate force, amid information that Israel is considering a ground attack on the tiny tract of land, home to 1.5 million Palestinians.
In an announcement, the government expressed its concern over the recent escalation of violence in Gaza, which has led to the loss of many innocent lives, and condemned all indiscriminate attacks against civilian targets.
“The government and the people of Cyprus express their sympathy to the families of the victims. The recent events also add further to the already grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” it said.
The government underlined the need for the full resumption of the cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.
The aerial bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces since Saturday was widely condemned by parties across the political spectrum yesterday, with DISY, DIKO, EDEK, EVROKO and the Greens all coming out to condemn the raid.
Cypriot MEP, Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, called for an end to the “inhuman” Israeli incursion in Gaza.
Triantaphyllides, who chairs the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council, condemned the “merciless bombing” of civilians, which he said completes “the human disaster that the Israeli occupying forces, for six months now, have brought upon the defenceless people of Gaza, with the absolute blockade of the Gaza Strip to the outside world”.
The MEP argued that what the Israelis failed to achieve through deprivation and suffering with the blockade of Gaza, “they come to complete as cold-blooded killers with the bombings”.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Loucas Louca ordered increased security measures at embassies of Middle Eastern countries in Nicosia, after a meeting with the police leadership.
“We have assessed the situation and the security measures at high risk embassies will increase. We are ready to deal with any situation that may arise,” he said.
Michael Papageorgiou, Deputy Chief of Police, said police were beefing up security at ports, airports, and the embassies of countries involved.
On Sunday, a demonstration took place outside the embassies of Israel and Egypt in Nicosia. The demonstrators were protesting the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip which has led to the loss of many innocent lives.
