Michael Rubin: Cyprus Should Reject Palestinian Refugees: Like Athens, Nicosia has close ties with both Arab states and Israel
The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has suggested Cyprus could be a “humanitarian transit area” in a $2 billion scheme to “temporarily” house Palestinian refugees during Gaza’s rebuilding.
While the Foundation has denied the plan, rumors persist and the Trump administration appears increasingly to believe that Cyprus could be the answer to its diplomatic problems.
Cyprus has a long history of being a hub for humanitarian relief, but it should resist any pressure by Washington to house Palestinian refugees, even temporarily. Many U.S. presidents conceived of alliances as symbiotic; too often, though, Trump views alliances as temporary conveniences in which the United States receives a favor but need to fulfill its commitments once the crisis passes.While Cyprus was the crucial node for the Biden-era humanitarian corridor and may again help send food and supplies to alleviate hunger in Gaza, even temporary housing of Palestinian refugees on the island would be a mistake whose costs would be far greater to Cyprus than any remuneration the Cypriot government might receive.
There is precedent for refugees transiting Cyprus. After the Holocaust, Cyprus housed displaced persons camps and was a transit point for Jewish refugees entering Palestine. During Middle East wars, the island became the safe zone to evacuate foreign civilians.
Palestinians, however, have abused Cypriot hospitality. In 2002, after Palestinian terrorists seized the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Cypriot government allowed the international community to strongarm it into accepting the attack’s ringleader Abdullah Daoud, the chief of Palestinian intelligence in Bethlehem, violated the terms of his release as he arrived in Cyprus.While he was supposed to refrain from terrorism and Palestinian activism on Cypriot soil, he used Cyprus to plot new terrorism. If one Palestinian militant was difficult, thousands could create insurmountable problems.
Cyprus would have two choices: Either keep the Palestinians confined in camps or allow them freedom to roam the country. The first option might seem optimal but, just as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)’s own documents suggested it sought to end its operations by 1954, temporary solutions are not always temporary.
As soon as Palestinians leave Gaza, the sense of crisis that energizes international crisis will end.
Cyprus might be stuck with a long-term Palestinian presence; locking them in camps could harm Cyprus’ image.Allowing the Palestinians to leave their camps could be even more problematic. Most refugees arriving in Cyprus will have lived their entire adult lives under Hamas. They will bring with them a culture entirely at odds with Cyprus’ own.
The problem is not only religion, but also treatment of women. Cyprus’ economy relies on tourism. If unemployed or underemployed Palestinians start harassing girls, women and tourists, the blow to Cyprus’ long-term brand could last years after the Gazans return. Lone wolf Palestinian attacks on Israeli, American, or European tourists would be a disaster for the tourism industry.
The idea that Cyprus should house any long-term Muslim refugees is unfair for two other reasons.
First, Cyprus already hosts 160,000 Turkish settlers. While they may live in the occupied zone, they still represent a long-term strain on Cypriot resources.
Second, there is a fundamental lack of logic when there are 21 Arab countries (not counting Arab League recognition of Palestine) that are culturally and linguistically far more similar to Gaza’s population than Cyprus.
While much of the international community blames Israel for the current state of Palestinians in Gaza, they fail to ask why the current conflict is the only one in the world where civilian refugees cannot flee to a neighboring state—Egypt—to escape war.
Saudi Arabia has thousands of air-conditioned tents to host pilgrims during the Hajj; these remain in storage the rest of the year but could easily substitute for a refugee camp. If the Arab governments truly believed Palestinian displacement from Gaza was temporary, they would have no reason to avoid building camps in their own countries.Cyprus is a crucial partner for peace and humanitarian relief in the region. Like Greece, Cyprus has close ties with both Arab states and Israel. It has cultivated its diplomatic strength over years and across administrations.
While Cyprus plays the long game, Washington’s concept of commitment and strategy seldom exceeds four years. American officials might make the right promises, but credibility and commitment are substantive rather than rhetorical concepts. In the long-term, Cyprus’ brand is far too important for peace and security than to be squandered on an ill-thought-out scheme plan.
* Michael Rubin is director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
The problem is not only religion, but also treatment of women. Cyprus’ economy relies on tourism. If unemployed or underemployed Palestinians start harassing girls, women and tourists, the blow to Cyprus’ long-term brand could last years after the Gazans return. Lone wolf Palestinian attacks on Israeli, American, or European tourists would be a disaster for the tourism industry.
The idea that Cyprus should house any long-term Muslim refugees is unfair for two other reasons.
First, Cyprus already hosts 160,000 Turkish settlers. While they may live in the occupied zone, they still represent a long-term strain on Cypriot resources.
Second, there is a fundamental lack of logic when there are 21 Arab countries (not counting Arab League recognition of Palestine) that are culturally and linguistically far more similar to Gaza’s population than Cyprus.
While much of the international community blames Israel for the current state of Palestinians in Gaza, they fail to ask why the current conflict is the only one in the world where civilian refugees cannot flee to a neighboring state—Egypt—to escape war.
Saudi Arabia has thousands of air-conditioned tents to host pilgrims during the Hajj; these remain in storage the rest of the year but could easily substitute for a refugee camp. If the Arab governments truly believed Palestinian displacement from Gaza was temporary, they would have no reason to avoid building camps in their own countries.Cyprus is a crucial partner for peace and humanitarian relief in the region. Like Greece, Cyprus has close ties with both Arab states and Israel. It has cultivated its diplomatic strength over years and across administrations.
While Cyprus plays the long game, Washington’s concept of commitment and strategy seldom exceeds four years. American officials might make the right promises, but credibility and commitment are substantive rather than rhetorical concepts. In the long-term, Cyprus’ brand is far too important for peace and security than to be squandered on an ill-thought-out scheme plan.
* Michael Rubin is director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
https://hellasjournal.com/2025/07/michael-rubin-cyprus-should-reject-palestinian-refugees-like-athens-nicosia-has-close-ties-with-both-arab-states-and-israel/
