According to an analysis by Dimitris Christopoulos, published in the Greek news outlet News247, the Cypriot leader's approach represents a dangerous contradiction that undermines Cyprus's own claims regarding the Turkish occupation of the island's northern territory. Christopoulos argues that the "Israel-Cyprus-Greece triangle" functioning as an anti-Turkish axis completely undermines the legally sound Greek and Cypriot arguments that have educated two generations about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
During his UN General Assembly address on September 24, 2025, President Christodoulides accused Turkish President Erdogan of "selective sensitivity and hypocrisy of the highest form" for championing international law and peace regarding Palestine and Gaza while Turkey continues to occupy Cypriot territory illegally. However, critics point out that Cyprus itself displays similar double standards by maintaining close ties with Israel despite its occupation of Palestinian territories.
"If it is indeed hypocrisy to defend the occupied Palestinians while supporting Turkish occupation in Cyprus, as Erdogan does, what is the opposite?" Christopoulos questions, referring to Cyprus's systematic support for Israel. The commentator describes this stance as "self-defeating stupidity" and "ideal suicide" for the Cypriot cause, particularly coming 50 years after the Turkish invasion, when international attention to the Cyprus issue had already waned.
The President's UN speech notably emphasized that Cyprus's "solidarity with Ukraine is non-negotiable," drawing parallels between Ukraine's current situation and Cyprus's experience of invasion and occupation over five decades. However, critics highlight the glaring absence of similar solidarity with Palestinians. In his address, Christodoulides merely referred to the situation in Gaza as a "humanitarian tragedy" without identifying those responsible for the ongoing crisis.
Christopoulos argues that Cyprus's stance has resulted in "moral disrepute" and that President Christodoulides bears personal responsibility for representing the country during what he calls "this terrible juncture of the Palestinian massacre." He warns that Cyprus's position alienates potential international support, questioning what Cyprus can expect from "a pariah state like Israel" and whether anyone would take seriously Netanyahu defending Cyprus against Turkish occupation.
The criticism extends beyond moral arguments to practical concerns about national interests. According to the analysis, Cyprus's current policy manages to undermine both international law—which Cyprus desperately needs for its own cause—and its national interests simultaneously. This approach, critics argue, makes it impossible for the international community to take Cyprus's own trauma seriously when the country appears to ignore similar violations happening "outside its door."