Israel Condemns Turkish Military Presence in Northern Cyprus

Israel condemned Turkey’s continuing military presence in northern Cyprus on Monday, issuing a forceful statement as the island marked 52 years since Turkish troops landed there in 1974.

“The ongoing Turkish military presence in the north of the island, alongside Ankara’s persistent attempts to alter the status quo through unilateral actions, is unacceptable,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

Israel also reaffirmed its “unwavering support” for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, while calling for renewed negotiations toward a lasting settlement.

The statement came as the Republic of Cyprus held memorial ceremonies and sounded air-raid sirens at the hour Turkish forces landed on July 20, 1974. In the Turkish-controlled north, officials marked the date as “Peace and Freedom Day,” celebrating what Turkey describes as an operation that protected Turkish Cypriots.

Turkey says it acted under its formal role as one of the countries responsible for protecting Cyprus’s independence. The Cypriot government calls the action an invasion followed by an ongoing occupation.

Turkey now controls roughly one-third of the island and maintains tens of thousands of troops in the north. A Turkish Cypriot administration declared independence there in 1983 but is recognized only by Turkey. A United Nations-controlled buffer zone separates the two sides.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides used Monday’s anniversary to call for a return to negotiations. “We hope the conditions will be created for the resumption of negotiations,” he said.

Christodoulides said he is prepared for another meeting involving the two Cypriot communities, the United Nations and Turkey, Greece and Britain, which were given formal roles in Cyprus’s independence agreement.

He is also pressing for access to possible burial sites inside Turkish military areas as Cyprus continues efforts to identify people still missing from the conflict.

Turkey, however, repeated a very different vision for the island’s future. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Ankara would continue standing with Turkish Cypriots.

“As the motherland and guarantor country, we will never abandon the Turkish Cypriot people in their just fight,” Erdoğan said.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said it would continue working for “the recognition of the Turkish Cypriots’ sovereign equality and equal international status.”

In plain terms, Ankara wants the north treated as a separate and equal state. The internationally recognized Cypriot government instead supports one reunited country in which Greek and Turkish Cypriots share power.

That basic disagreement has blocked repeated peace efforts for decades. Earlier talks have produced proposals for new crossings between the two sides, removing mines and developing shared environmental and solar-energy projects, but no final political agreement.

The anniversary came one week before UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to visit Cyprus from July 27 to 29 for another attempt to advance talks. The visit will focus on rebuilding trust and finding enough common ground to restart formal negotiations.

Israel’s position also comes amid its growing partnership with Cyprus in defense, energy and regional cooperation. Relations between Israel and Turkey remain strained, while Ankara has previously questioned whether Israel’s ties with Cyprus are directed against Turkish interests.