President Nikos Christodoulides has pledged that Cyprus will use its upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union to advocate for the return of all Israeli hostages, as he arrived in Jerusalem for the 10th trilateral summit with Greece and Israel.
During a bilateral meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday afternoon, Christodoulides clarified that securing the release of those held in Gaza is a humanitarian priority for Nicosia. “Our position has been clear from the start,” the President stated, adding that Cyprus remains committed to bringing the EU closer to the Middle East when it assumes the rotating presidency on 1 January 2026.
President Herzog praised the “enormous upgrade” in ties between the two nations in recent years, describing Cyprus as a “bridge of peace” and a vital functional link in the Eastern Mediterranean basin. He noted that the Israeli public has become “great fans” of Cyprus, a sentiment echoed by Christodoulides, who pointed to the 186 weekly flights between the two countries as a “clear indicator” of the strong bonds between their citizens.
The diplomatic schedule continued with a 17:30 meeting between Christodoulides and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the Cypriot presidency, these talks focused on “strategic relations” in the fields of energy, defence, innovation, and tourism. These bilateral discussions are a precursor to the main trilateral session involving Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, where the three leaders intend to institutionalise their cooperation through a joint declaration.
The summit’s agenda remains centred on the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) and regional maritime security. The leaders are also expected to explore the expansion of the “3+1” framework to include deeper cooperation with the United States.
Following the conclusion of the evening’s working dinner, President Herzog accepted an official invitation from Christodoulides to visit Cyprus in the near future.
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