Five Palestinians referred to criminal court over terrorism plot in Cyprus

Five Palestinian men aged 32, 33, 38, 41, and 54 have been referred to trial before the Permanent Criminal Court of Larnaca. The defendants, who face 15 serious charges including terrorism, conspiracy to murder, money laundering, and support for a terrorist organization, are accused of operating a network linked to Hamas that allegedly planned attacks against Israeli targets in Cyprus during 2026.

The case was originally uncovered in May when two suspects were arrested following raids near Pentakomo. Subsequent investigations led to the identification of additional members, including a 41-year-old alleged mastermind who was extradited from Indonesia in July, and a 32-year-old Limassol resident whose arrest remained undisclosed until recently. Authorities allege that members of this network received instructions during trips to Istanbul and underwent training in Malaysia.

On August 6, the Larnaca Criminal Court ordered that three separate legal proceedings against the men be merged into a single indictment. The trial is scheduled to begin on October 14. If convicted, the suspects face penalties of up to life imprisonment. The proceedings were conducted under strict security measures.