Activists have raised serious concerns over claims that a US military aircraft used Cyprus as a transit point for operations between Qatar and Israel. Six organisations, including Genocide-Free Cyprus and BDS Cyprus, argue that this incident reveals a troubling level of complicity from the Cypriot government in foreign military activities.
Photo: in-cyprus.philenews.com
- This incident follows reports that the UK has conducted over 600 surveillance flights over Gaza from Cyprus since 2023, further complicating the island's role in international military affairs.
On Wednesday morning, a US C-17 transport aircraft allegedly departed Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, tracking data showed its route taking it near Paphos International Airport before it continued to Israel. The coalition of activist groups released this flight tracking data, suggesting that the operation is indicative of Cyprus having “effectively surrendered sovereignty” to foreign military interests.
Photo: in-cyprus.philenews.com
According to their analysis, the aircraft’s flight signal went offline shortly before reaching Paphos, casting doubt on whether it actually landed at the airport or diverted to the nearby Mari Navy Base. An hour later, the C-17 reappeared on radar heading towards Israel. The activists described this as a “phantom landing” that aimed to disguise direct routing between the US base and Israel.
The groups stated, “The altitude readings of the C-17 never dropped to zero, indicating that it did not land in Paphos at all but merely passed over the region in an apparent attempt to trick flight-tracking systems.” They expressed strong scepticism about the nature of the operation, stating, “This operation is almost certainly not related to humanitarian aid. There would be no reason for a US military cargo aircraft to undertake such a secretive journey if its purpose were humanitarian.”
Accusations were directed at the Christodoulides government for allegedly allowing “Israel control over key security measures on the island, including its airports, ports and other critical infrastructure.” The activists claimed this arrangement has permitted foreign militaries to operate freely on Cypriot territory without accountability to the local population.
In a call for transparency, the organisations demanded answers from the government: “What cargo/personnel was the aircraft transporting? Was Paphos Airport or Mari Navy Base knowingly made available for the transfer of military aid to Israel? What is the reasoning behind the covert operations from the island?”
Furthermore, they have condemned the media’s coverage of such incidents, asserting, “At this critical moment, the Cypriot media has a responsibility to challenge the government’s silence and expose the use of national facilities for foreign military operations that facilitate war crimes.”
The statement concluded with a stark warning: “By permitting such flights and enabling operations from the island to aid the US and Israel, the Cypriot government has effectively abdicated its sovereignty – turning the island into a silent accomplice in genocide.”
This incident follows reports that the UK has conducted over 600 surveillance flights over Gaza from Cyprus since 2023, further complicating the island’s role in international military affairs.
