The Israel-Cyprus alliance is becoming a shining example of Mediterranean cooperation and stability and a key to a sustainable, healthy and prosperous future for our entire region, President of Israel Isaac Herzog said in a video message played during the Cyprus Independence reception that was held on Wednesday in Tel Aviv. Herzog also expressed gratitude to the Cypriot government for their active role in facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza. According to a post by the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Israel resharing the video message on X, the Israeli President expressed his satisfaction for the 'flourishing ties between the nations over the past decade', adding that the 'spheres of bilateral cooperation are as broad and as deep as they can be', including defence, climate innovation, tourism and culture. 'The Israel-Cyprus alliance is becoming a shining example of Mediterranean cooperation and stability and a key to a sustainable, healthy and prosperous future for our entire region', he stressed, a dding that 'joint initiatives in fields like climate, which are so critical at this moment for humanity, will directly impact the lives of Cypriots and Israelis over the long term, whilst enhancing the security and resilience of all of Europe'. 'There is no question there is so much to be grateful for, but first and foremost I want to thank the Cypriot government for being so involved in the inflow and incoming humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, in cooperation and conjunction with the government of Israel as part of our humongous humanitarian effort to ease the pressure on the civilian population, of the uninvolved people in Gaza', stressed President Herzog. Noting that true friendship is tested not only in times of prosperity and peace, but especially in times of difficulty, he said that both countries have shown that they are there for each other in good times and bad times, and expressed his 'deep gratitude' to Cyprus' strong expression of solidarity and support since October 7th, 'when thousands of terrorists poured into Israel and massacred, raped, abducted, kidnapped and killed our people'. 'Even as we continue to work to expand the circle of peace across the Mediterranean and the Middle East, we also continue to combat terrorism and its sponsors and to work day and night to bring all of our hostages back home', he added in that regard. In closing, the Israeli President thanked President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides 'for his wonderful friendship and strong leadership', as well as the Cypriot Ambassador in Tel Aviv Kornelios Korneliou and the entire embassy team 'for all their work in strengthening the ties of cooperation between our nations.' As per the Embassy's post, the reception included a photo exhibition marking 50 years since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and was also attended by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. Source: Cyprus News Agency