Protest held outside Presidential Palace against Gaza Board of Peace meeting in Cyprus

On the evening of Tuesday, June 30, approximately 50 people gathered outside the Presidential Palace in Nicosia to protest the hosting of the "Gaza Board of Peace" meeting in Cyprus, scheduled from June 30 to July 1. Demonstrators, including public figures such as Elsie Christofia and activist Orestis Matsas, called on the Cypriot government to withdraw support for the initiative. Organizers claim the initiative bypasses the United Nations and undermines international law by excluding Palestinians from decision-making while including Israel. Protestors further criticized the so-called "Gaza Riviera" plans, arguing they promote displacement rather than justice. While the government maintains it is not a co-organizer, protesters point to the state's observer status and input into the sessions as evidence of complicity. Speakers at the event emphasized the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urged the state to uphold international human rights principles.