Cyprus police are under scrutiny after a pro-Palestine protest outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nicosia ended in clashes on Thursday evening. The gathering, called by the Cyprus chapter of the Global Movement for Gaza, was held in response to Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla and the illegal detention of its crew in international waters.

Organizers and participants say the rally remained peaceful until a large contingent of anti-riot officers arrived shortly before it ended. Multiple eyewitnesses described officers exiting vehicles in formation and pushing into the crowd with shields, striking people with batons and deploying pepper spray; video clips circulating online show scuffles and people recoiling from irritants. One woman journalist was reported injured by media outlets present at the scene. Protesters also claim a police drone hovered above them for much of the demonstration.

>>Police Violence Against Journalist Sparks Outrage in Cyprus<<

Police reject claims of an unprovoked assault. A spokesperson said officers were there primarily to 'manage traffic' and ensure safety after protesters stepped into the roadway and blocked one lane, prompting police to close the second lane as well. According to the force, the road reopened around 8:00 p.m., but units remained on site while a small group of protesters stayed. The spokesperson said there was no use of tear gas, only “individual spray,” and no official reports of injuries. Police also argued the event was not pre-notified under the new assembly rules, that no responsible organizer could be identified on site, and that repeated requests to move onto the pavement were ignored. A police union representative further cited security concerns about vehicles driving through crowds during spontaneous street occupations.

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The dispute over what happened goes to the heart of Cyprus’s new public assembly framework, passed two months ago. An OSCE legal opinion has warned the law risks unduly restricting rights, including through vague grounds for limiting or dispersing gatherings. Thursday’s scenes have reignited that debate, with critics saying policing was disproportionate and inconsistent with recent precedents.

Comparisons have resurfaced with a March 23, 2025 protest by hunting groups that blocked a highway for hours. Footage from that day showed barbecues and makeshift stands on the tarmac while police largely kept a distance. Opponents of Thursday’s operation argue the different approach undermines the claim that traffic disruption alone justified forceful dispersal outside the Foreign Ministry, where demonstrators say they briefly occupied the road for about half an hour.

The political reaction was swift. AKEL Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou sent a letter to the Chief of Police demanding to know who ordered Thursday’s operation and calling for a thorough investigation into potential abuse of power. AKEL denounced what it called “excessive force” and announced a new demonstration outside the same ministry at 6:00 p.m., urging citizens to oppose “state repression” and the government’s deference to the Netanyahu administration. Other groups echoed calls for the flotilla crew’s release and an end to Gaza’s blockade.