**Protestors Lambast Planned Board of Peace Meeting in Cyprus**
Nicosia, Cyprus – Over 150 individuals gathered outside the presidential palace in Nicosia on Monday evening to voice their opposition to the commencement of a multi-day meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace, which is taking place in Cyprus. The protest was organized by a coalition of advocacy groups and left-wing political parties, including the Alliance Against the Far Right, Fascism and Racism; Accept LGBTI; Kisa; Akel; and Volt.
Demonstrators expressed their discontent with the Cypriot government for permitting the meeting to occur within its borders, despite official statements asserting that Cyprus is not an organizer of the event. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Nikos, Nikos, you can’t hide. You’re supporting genocide,” directed at President Nikos Christodoulides, and “Justice is our demand. No support from Cypriot land.”
The Gaza Board of Peace was established by former United States President Donald Trump with the aim of managing Gaza. However, more than six months after its inception, the Board has yet to assume control from Hamas. Protesters criticized the Board as a coalition of affluent interests that disregards Palestinian self-determination.
Speakers at the protest included Stephanos Stavros Evangelides, secretary of AcceptCY, and actress Popi Avraam. One speaker from the organization Palestine Solidarity Action remarked, “There is no such thing as an innocent when the meeting is a disgrace,” challenging the government’s assertion that it had no role in organizing the meetings. The speaker further stated, “When you rent your house to criminals, you do not get to claim clean hands because you’re sitting in the garden.”
To illustrate the impact of the ongoing conflict, protesters displayed bloodied sheets alongside children’s shoes and toys, as well as poems written by Palestinian poets in support of the Palestinian people. This poignant display aimed to represent the tens of thousands of children who have lost their lives in Gaza since the Hamas-led attacks began on October 7, 2023.
The exact location of the Board of Peace meeting remains undisclosed, and there have been conflicting reports regarding its duration, with some sources indicating it may last for two or three days. As of Tuesday, it was unclear whether the meeting had proceeded as scheduled due to a lack of public information.
Among the attendees are notable figures, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and members of the committee of Palestinian officials designated to replace Hamas as the governing authority in Gaza. Blair was initially expected to meet with President Christodoulides prior to the meetings; however, those plans were disrupted due to a flight cancellation, and the two leaders are now expected to communicate by phone.
The protest highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the situation in Gaza and the international response to the conflict. As the Board of Peace convenes, the sentiments expressed by the demonstrators reflect a broader concern over the implications of such meetings for the future of Palestinian governance and the humanitarian crisis in the region.