Activists protest Middle East crisis outside UK base in Greek Cyprus

Pro-Palestinian activists gathered outside RAF Akrotiri, a British military base in Greek Cyprus, on Sunday, protesting the UK’s perceived support for Israel’s military operations in Gaza and elsewhere in the region.

The peaceful demonstration saw a few hundred people waving Palestinian and Greek Cyprus flags while chanting, “Out with the bases of death.”

RAF Akrotiri, the largest British base in the Middle East, has been a focal point of protests amid increasing tensions in the region. Demonstrators voiced concerns over the UK’s military presence in Greek Cyprus, a former British colony, and its role in the ongoing crisis.

British bases under scrutiny

The protest follows the UK’s decision to deploy additional troops to Greek Cyprus in response to the escalating conflict in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes recently killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The troops are positioned to assist with any potential evacuation of British nationals trapped in Lebanon.

Peter Iosif, a member of the Cyprus Peace Council and an organizer of the protest, emphasized Cyprus’s sovereignty. “This is an issue of independence and sovereignty for Cyprus. At this time, it becomes even more obvious how the British bases are acting against the will of the Cyprus people,” Iosif said.

UK Ministry of Defence denies involvement in Israeli operations

In response to the protests, a spokesperson for the British bases stated: “No RAF flights have transported lethal cargo to the Israeli Defence Forces.”

The spokesperson further clarified that the UK Ministry of Defence routinely authorizes access to the air bases for allies and partners, in line with UK policy for evacuation and humanitarian purposes only.

RAF Akrotiri has been used in the past for airstrikes against Houthi forces in Yemen, following attacks on Red Sea shipping, which the Iran-backed group claims were in retaliation for the conflict in Gaza.