International political expert Shay Gal, in his column for the Israel Hayem newspaper, stated that Cyprus is also an Israeli problem, saying, "It is not Israel's role or desire to liberate Northern Cyprus. However, if the threat from the region reaches a critical threshold, Israel must change its strategic stance. Israel, in coordination with Greece and Cyprus, should prepare an emergency operation to liberate the northern part of the island."
Gal said, "Turks should be removed from Northern Cyprus."
Shay Gal's full post reads:
Cyprus recently commemorated the 51st anniversary of Türkiye’s 1974 invasion – an event that remains a lasting trauma for Greek Cypriots. For decades, Israel dismissed the conflict as a distant Greek-Turkish issue. But it must now be openly acknowledged: Northern Cyprus is not only a Greek Cypriot issue, but also an Israeli one. In practice, Northern Cyprus functions as an international no-man’s land, offering unrestricted operational freedom to Turkey and terrorist organizations like Hamas and Iran’s Quds Force.
Since the invasion, which resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of hundreds of thousands, Türkiye's presence has quietly transformed. The region has become a forward base for Türkiye's military. Advanced weapons systems, cyber surveillance infrastructure, and signals intelligence (SIGINT) facilities capable of intercepting Israeli military and civilian communications are deployed here, along with a clandestine counterterrorism infrastructure backed by Ankara. According to leaked intelligence documents, senior Turkish officials describe Northern Cyprus as "the ideal place where anything can be done without police or judicial oversight."
Turkey can deploy armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UCAVs) much more quickly from Geçitkale Air Base, which it converted from an abandoned airport during the regional natural gas tensions, than from its mainland bases. Bayraktar TB2 armed UCAVs were officially deployed to this base in May 2021, while more advanced Akıncı UAVs were showcased at a military parade in July 2024. These unmanned aerial vehicles are capable of quickly striking Israel's natural gas platforms, naval assets, and strategic targets. Furthermore, Türkiye's advanced ATMACA anti-ship missiles—with a range exceeding 200 km—pose a direct threat to Israel's critical maritime infrastructure. Furthermore, Türkiye's new Typhoon ballistic missile is capable of precisely striking targets up to 560 kilometers away. According to Western intelligence reports, missile bases in Kyrenia and Famagusta are ready to deploy these missiles. This is Türkiye's first direct ballistic threat against Israel and is capable of striking Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Haifa Bay.
Meanwhile, the European Union maintains security cooperation with Ankara despite Türkiye's occupation of EU territory. This contradiction undermines the EU's credibility and poses a danger to Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Türkiye's aggressive foreign policy, characterized by illegal occupations, sanctions violations, and links to extremist groups, aligns it more closely with rogue regimes than with NATO allies. Given the requirement for unanimous decisions in NATO and Türkiye's strained relations within the alliance, it is unlikely that Article 5 protection would be invoked even in unrelated conflicts; such a possibility is virtually nonexistent in the case of Northern Cyprus, which is internationally recognized as Cypriot territory.
However, the threat is not limited to the military. Lacking effective international oversight, the occupied territory has become a hub for terrorist financing and money laundering. Illicit funds originating from Iran and Turkey are funneled to Hamas and similar terrorist organizations through front companies. Documents seized in operations "Guardian of the Walls" (2021) and "Iron Swords" (2023) in Gaza revealed that Hamas planned to establish an operational branch in Turkey and Northern Cyprus responsible for attacks on Israelis in Europe. Furthermore, a Quds Force cell discovered in the region in 2023 was planning attacks against Israeli targets in Europe. This Iranian cell reveals that Northern Cyprus is being used as a safe haven for anti-Israeli operations. In this context, Türkiye's control of Northern Cyprus allows both Türkiye and Iran to circumvent sanctions and escalate their strategic threats against Israel. Furthermore, hotels, casinos, universities, and ports in Northern Cyprus have reportedly become secret centers for espionage, blackmail, and intelligence operations conducted by Turkish security forces and organized crime networks, including “honey trap” activities targeting international officials.
Liberating Northern Cyprus is neither Israel's role nor its desire. However, if the threat emanating from the region reaches a critical level, Israel will need to shift its strategic position. Israel, in coordination with Greece and Cyprus, should develop a contingency plan to liberate the northern part of the island. Such an operation would neutralize Turkish reinforcements from the mainland, eliminate air defenses in Northern Cyprus, destroy intelligence and command centers, and ultimately expel Turkish forces from the region, restoring internationally recognized Cypriot sovereignty.
This contingency plan could be called "Poseidon's Wrath," inspired by Poseidon, the god of the sea. This name symbolizes dominance of the seas and the devastating consequences of a worst-case scenario. It also emphasizes Israel's determination to protect its strategic naval assets and keep open sea lanes vital to regional security. This plan must remain solely a contingency plan: Israel does not seek conflict, but must be fully prepared. Even an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, previously considered unlikely, was eventually carried out. The troubled Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project, which Türkiye is building on the Mediterranean coast and which Russia quickly withdrew support for due to its risks, is a key lesson to be learned from this lesson.
Somewhat deluded me thinks. Peaceful nation! Others may think different given their recent and ongoing behaviour in the region.
