DiEM25 members and supporters were among the thousands of protestors who made their voices heard outside the British bases in Akrotiri, Cyprus, on Sunday, standing against the role they play in military interventions in the Middle East.

Protestors made it clear that the island must not be used as a military launchpad anymore, that Cypriot soil must not be used as a British-NATO base for crimes against humanity in the neighbouring region.

The Cypriot people do not want British military bases in their country. Cyprus and the European Union as a whole must become non-aligned and independent, moving towards a world without military blocs.

The Cyprus Peace Council were among those in attendance at the protest, and they published a statement on the matter, condemning the role the British bases play in Cyprus.

“We once again denounce the use and involvement of the British bases in Cyprus in the murderous airstrikes being launched against the peoples of the region. The ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip and Yemen are creating dangers of a general flare-up in the Middle East,” a CPC statement said.

“Cyprus is neither a US-NATO, nor a British aggressive launching pad. We the Cypriot people do not want our country to be involved in any way in the bloody massacre taking place in the Gaza Strip.”

Holding politicians accountable

Europe and our governments are complicit in the crimes in Gaza, making all of us responsible. Europe and our nations will never be able to stand by any oppressed people while we are a vassal of the US and NATO. We have a responsibility towards the people of Palestine, towards humanity, to stop supporting politicians and governments who are supporting the Israeli apartheid and occupation. In the coming European elections, our movement will bring the fight to Brussels and hold all genocidal politicians accountable.

We, DiEM25 and Progressive International, commend South Africa on its application to the International Court of Justice invoking the Genocide Convention against Israel. We have to maintain cooperation, at all levels, and we saw a powerful example of that lats week.

Over 1,000 popular movements, political parties, unions, and other organizations call on states around the world to support South Africa’s genocide case against Israel. We urge national governments to immediately file a Declaration of Intervention in support of the South African case against Israel to stop the killing in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Beyond the protests, we have an obligation to work until Israel stops the genocide and recognises that Palestinians have human rights.

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