Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas thanked Cyprus for its longstanding support for the Palestinian people on Thursday and urged the country to help advance peace talks with Israel following this week’s Israeli elections. Abbas made the remarks during a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia. He praised Cyprus for its humanitarian assistance and political support, highlighting its decision to recognize Palestinian statehood in 1988.
The Palestinian leader said relations between the two sides dated back well before that recognition. His remarks reflected the historical ties between Cyprus and Palestine, which have developed alongside Greece’s longstanding diplomatic relations with Israel and Palestine. The meeting also focused on the situation in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as efforts to restore peace and stability across the region.
Abbas calls for renewed peace talks with Israel
Abbas said Palestinians remained committed to resolving their conflict with Israel through peaceful negotiations based on international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions. He stressed that Palestinians sought security for both sides and opposed further military confrontation. He also reaffirmed his support for peaceful, popular resistance to violations of Palestinian rights.
🇵🇸🇨🇾 Κύπρος και Παλαιστίνη: σχέσεις φιλίας, αλληλεγγύης και κοινής δέσμευσης για την ειρήνη
Η Πρεσβεία του Κράτους της Παλαιστίνης στην Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία χαιρετίζει τη συνάντηση του Προέδρου του Κράτους της Παλαιστίνης, Μαχμούντ Αμπάς, με τον Πρόεδρο της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας,… pic.twitter.com/77caxMihG7
— Embassy of the State of Palestine to Cyprus (@PalestineEmbCy) October 29, 2026
Referring to Israel’s parliamentary elections on Tuesday, Abbas said he was awaiting the formation of a new government before pursuing further discussions. He said Palestinians were ready to discuss peace with the new Israeli leadership once it takes office. Abbas urged Cyprus to help facilitate future negotiations, citing its friendly relations with both Palestinians and Israelis.
His appeal follows previous diplomatic efforts involving Greece and Palestine. In 2015, Abbas met then-Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Athens, where both leaders discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a possible two-state solution.
Cyprus reaffirms support for Palestinian statehood
Christodoulides reaffirmed Cyprus’ support for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through United Nations resolutions. He said his government remained committed to promoting regional security and stability. The Cypriot president also highlighted the country’s humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. This includes aid deliveries to Gaza and training for Palestinian emergency workers at the Cyclops center in Larnaca.
Cyprus has played an important role in delivering humanitarian supplies to Gaza. In 2024, the country helped establish the Amalthea maritime aid corridor, allowing humanitarian shipments to reach the Palestinian territory by sea. Christodoulides has also emphasized Cyprus’ wider humanitarian role. During his September 2026 address to the United Nations, he said Cyprus had allocated more than 25% of its humanitarian assistance budget to Palestine.
Christodoulides described Abbas’ visit as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and discuss diplomatic efforts during a critical period for the region. He stressed that Cyprus sought to contribute to regional solutions rather than become involved in further disputes. The Cypriot president said his government remained ready to assist Palestine in whatever capacity could help advance their shared objectives.
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