Cyprus's president on Tuesday urged an immediate investigation into the killing of seven aid workers in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, saying the U.S.-based charity they were members of was a "crucial partner" in efforts to get aid to the enclave by sea.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides speaks during a press conference with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola at the Zenon Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Larnaca, Cyprus April 2, 2024. Reuters/Yiannis Kourtoglou
Cyprus's president on Tuesday urged an immediate investigation into the killing of seven aid workers in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, saying the U.S.-based charity they were members of was a "crucial partner" in efforts to get aid to the enclave by sea.
"We need to double down on efforts to get aid to Gaza," Nikos Christodoulides said, after a meeting with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
An Israeli strike hit a convoy carrying a World Central Kitchen team which had just unloaded more than 100 tons of food aid brought to Gaza via the maritime route from Cyprus. Citizens from Australia, Poland and Britain were among the victims.
The charity said it was pausing operations in the region with immediate effect. WCK has been active in Gaza since October, bringing food by land routes and also participating in air drops.
Earlier this month, it launched an inaugural sea corridor transporting aid to the enclave from Cyprus. A second convoy of ships taking just over 300 tonnes of aid left Cyprus last weekend.
"The Amalthea initiative will continue as long as the humanitarian needs are there," Christodoulides said, referring to the maritime route.
Reporting By Michele Kambas
A video sting produced by an Israeli private intelligence firm that said it exposed corruption in Cyprus may have been part of a hybrid attack targeting the Cypriot state, and none of those filmed did anything wrong, an independent investigator said on Monday.
Cyprus marked the 52-year anniversary of Turkey's 1974 invasion on Monday as the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities prepared for a renewed effort from the United Nations to break years of deadlock in peace talks.
The European Union has rebuked Turkey for excluding Cyprus from preparations for this year's U.N. climate summit, as diplomatic tensions over the issue increase ahead of the global climate talks.
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