Provocative social media post
A controversial post has drawn attention after Turkish commentator Sefa Karahasan published statements on platform X, in which he described the Republic of Cyprus in highly inflammatory terms.
Karahasan, a former journalist for Turkish media outlets Milliyet and TRT, claimed that Cyprus has effectively become a “small Israel” under alleged Israeli and French influence.
Bir gün gelecek; Rumlar Keşke Limasol’da Larnaka’da Türk bayrağı dalgalansa diyecek!
— Dr. Sefa Karahasan (@sefakarahasan) April 28, 2026
📍İsrail, Fransa…
Sırada başka ülkeler de var.
Özetle!..
Larnaka, Limasol İsrail’in bir ilçesi haline geldi.
Binlerce aile buralara yerleşti.
Rum askeri üsleri de İsrail’in kontrolünde.… pic.twitter.com/dCqGtVNgn4
Claims about foreign presence in Cyprus
In his post, the commentator alleged that thousands of Israeli families have settled in Larnaca and Limassol and claimed that Cypriot military bases are under Israeli control.
These statements form part of wider narratives frequently seen in Turkish media discourse regarding the island’s geopolitical alignment.
Reference to France and military presence
The post also referred to France, claiming it is expanding its military presence in Cyprus and exploiting political tensions between Athens, Nicosia and Ankara.
He further suggested that Cyprus is of strategic importance to Ankara and accused the French leadership of encouraging regional instability.
Claims rejected by official positions
The Republic of Cyprus has repeatedly stated that it maintains sovereign control over its territory and that foreign defence cooperation agreements do not imply loss of sovereignty.
The narrative presented in the post also included allegations that Cyprus is effectively controlled by foreign powers, claims that are not supported by official data or recognised international assessments.
References to 1974 and inflammatory remarks
The post concluded with highly provocative references to the events of 1974 and the division of the island, including claims about future regret among Greek Cypriots and references to Turkish control of the entire island.
The commentator also shared an AI-generated image depicting the Turkish flag over Limassol castle, further amplifying the message.
Context of ongoing tensions
Such statements come amid ongoing political sensitivities surrounding the Cyprus issue and continue to reflect deeply polarised narratives in regional discourse.
Authorities in Cyprus regularly reject similar claims and reiterate their position on sovereignty and international law.
Also read: President: Humanitarian presence of French forces in Cyprus
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