Yesterday, we wrote about the tragic prospect of more than 14,000 children dying in Gaza from starvation and lack of medicine. Today, we cannot but insist on this enormous issue which, once again and perhaps more harshly than many other times in recent years, tests humanity. It tests whether and how much soul we have left. We cannot close our eyes to a decision by the European Union which serves to remind us not only of the scale of the tragedy, but also the scale of the hypocrisy.
In an extremely important meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, 17 out of 27 supported the Netherlands’ proposal to review the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Based on Article 2, which explicitly provides for respect for human rights as a fundamental pillar of bilateral relations. It was a necessary political response to a humanitarian disaster, which for many constitutes a violation of international law by Israel.
Among the ten who voted against (according to Euronews) were Greece and Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus. The same country that prides itself on its geostrategic position. That promotes its humanitarian role in the region. And declares itself a friend and bridge between West and East. It said “no” to the obvious demand that accountability be sought when children are killed and civilians starve.
Let us not hide behind our finger. Cyprus’s relationship with Israel is important politically and on matters of energy. No one is asking for a rupture of relations. But what is asked for is a stance of responsibility and respect for humanity. Values are demanded. What is demanded is that silence not be bought with economic or geopolitical agreements, when the UN sounds the alarm about famine and characterises Gaza as “The world’s most dangerous place to be a child“.
The painful irony is that the Netherlands—traditionally pro-Israel—was the one that led the proposal, recognising that the blockade of Gaza constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. Ireland, Spain, Sweden, France and other countries did not hesitate to take a position. And Cyprus? The country that—better than any other in Europe—knows about occupation, about refugees, about missing persons, decided to look away.
If the Christodoulides government believes it can take pride in the “balances” it maintains, let it say so directly to the parents who dig with their hands to find the corpses of their children under the rubble of hospitals and schools. Let it tell the thousands of other parents who tremble watching their children slowly die from hunger.
Let it explain to them what exactly takes precedence over human life. Diplomacy without ethics is mere management of interests and therefore becomes criminal. Unfortunately, Cyprus could have given a resounding lesson in principles, values and humanitarianism. Instead, it chose to send a deplorable message.
According to the UNICEF report, nearly one million children in Gaza face the risk of starvation. They do not have adequate access to water, food, fuel and medicine. Their homes have been destroyed, their families have been torn apart. The failure to allow unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid constitutes not only a political scandal but also moral collapse. The Republic of Cyprus, instead of being a voice of humanity, limited itself to the role of convenient ally.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated that the European Union has an obligation to review its relations with Israel due to serious violations in Gaza. But Nicosia was not moved. Perhaps because it is easier to make political statements of sympathy than to turn them into actions.
Article 2 of the Association Agreement is not decorative. It is a legal and political tool. If it is not used when thousands of children are dying, then when will it be used?
Some argue that for Palestinians to save their children from death, they must shake off Hamas. Truly, this is the height of hypocrisy. Are all Palestinians members of Hamas? But even if they were, is there any human being who can accept that so many thousands of innocent children will be murdered to force Palestinians to shake off Hamas? I am sorry, but this has nothing to do with the concept of Humanitarianism!
Cyprus can and must maintain its strategic relations with Israel. Not, however, at the expense of its soul. History remembers those who stood up, spoke out, demanded humanity. At the same time, however, it also remembers those who maintained a neutral stance towards evil or, even worse, supported it.
At this crossroads, the Republic of Cyprus chose to remain silent. A silence, however, that echoes as deafeningly as the cries of the children starving in Gaza.
PS: Yesterday, the Christodoulides government’s position became even worse. Because Greece, which had also positioned itself negatively in the EU Foreign Ministers Council, in the Security Council together with four other countries (Britain, France, Denmark, Slovenia) called in their joint statement for “Israel to remove obstacles to aid entering Gaza”.
