On Friday evening, protesters gathered outside the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, urging President Nikos Christodoulides to cancel his scheduled trip to Israel and meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Demonstrators cited the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.

The protest was organized by 12 civil society groups, including the Cyprus Peace Council, EDON, KISA, and United for Palestine. A joint petition condemning the visit was submitted to the Presidency, arguing that Cyprus, as a signatory to the Rome Statute, is legally bound to support the ICC and not legitimize unlawful actions like Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories—declared illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2024.

The petition called for a review of Cyprus-Israel relations, particularly energy cooperation agreements, which protesters claim contradict UN recommendations urging countries to cut ties with Israel due to its actions in Gaza.

Speakers criticized the President for aligning Cyprus with a government accused of genocide, asserting the visit serves political and business interests rather than the public good. Protesters also blocked traffic for two hours, chanting in support of Palestine and hosting poetry and music performances.