Thirty academics in Cyprus have condemned what they term genocide in Gaza, criticising the Cypriot government’s cooperation with Israel.
The academics released a statement condemning “the genocide being perpetrated in Gaza by the murderous state of Israel against the Palestinian people, with the support of the US, NATO, and the EU.”
The statement cited “over 54,000 confirmed deaths, of which 17,000 children, 123,000 wounded, the majority civilians, women and children, 2,300,000 in famine, of which 14,000 undernourished infants.”
The scholars described Gaza as “thousands displaced, a region levelled, without buildings and infrastructure, without water, food, medicine, hospitals, doctors that certainly lead to the death of a people whose crime is that they demand to have a homeland and live in their land.”
They criticised Cyprus government policy, stating: “At the same time the Cypriot government cooperates and allies with this murderous state, when 37% of Cyprus’s land has been under occupation for over 50 years, while settlement in the occupied areas is rapidly increasing.”
They referenced a cancelled joint event with the embassy of Israel at a primary school in Nicosia, noting: “The Cypriot government went so far as to announce a joint event with Israel’s embassy at a primary school, with small children as backdrop, thus whitewashing Israel’s crimes.”
The statement said: “Despite hypocritical statements that ‘what is happening in Gaza is tragic,’ the Cypriot government in reality supports the murderous state of Israel, seeking much more in their cooperation in defence, intelligence exchange, trade and energy sectors.”
They demanded the government “stop every relationship and facilitation with the murderous state of Israel” and called for “practical condemnation of Israel’s crimes and opposition to Israel-US plans for total occupation of Gaza.”
They also demanded recognition of “the Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as capital.”
Complete list of signatories:
- Georgis Georgios, University of Cyprus
- Yiasemi Sotiroula, researcher at Prometheus Research Institute
- Gouliamos Kostas, former rector of European University Cyprus
- Zaccagni Gaia, University of Cyprus language centre
- Zacharioudakis Lefteris, assistant professor of cybersecurity at Neapolis University
- Iordanidou Sofia, communications professor at Open University of Cyprus
- Kamilaris Andreas, associate professor at Cyprus CYENS Centre of Excellence
- Kassianos Angelos, health psychology lecturer at Cyprus University of Technology
- Konstantinidis Stefanos, former professor at Laval University Canada
- Konstantinou Kostakis, media professor at Frederick University
- Lamprou Ivi, assistant professor at Frederick University
- Mihanikou Antonis, University of Cyprus Medical School research staff
- Michail Michalis, dean of humanities at University of Cyprus
- Moudouros Nikos, University of Cyprus
- Economou Dafnos, Frederick University
- Panaoura Rita, dean at Frederick University
- Papageorgiou Pambos, philosophy professor at European University Cyprus
- Pashiardis Chrysostomos, researcher at Prometheus Research Institute
- Pelekanou Maria, researcher
- Piperides Andreas, PhD candidate in international law at University of Glasgow
- Rossides Nicos, lecturer at European University Cyprus
- Savvides Leandros, assistant professor at Alexander College
- Sarris Dimitris, researcher
- Stavrou Aimilia, academic collaborator at Frederick University
- Trimithiotis Dimitris, assistant professor at University of Cyprus
- Charalambidis Aimilios, assistant professor at Frederick University
- Chatzipanagioti Anna, former professor at Frederick University
- Chatzipappa Sofia, associate professor at European University Cyprus
- Christodoulidis Kostas, research director at Alexander College
- Chrysostomou Charalambos, head of research at Cyprus University of Technology
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