Concerns have been raised over Limassol mayor Yiannis Armeftis’ lack of clarity regarding whether he will participate in a real estate conference organised by the Israeli Nadlan Centre in early June, although unofficial reports suggest he will not attend.

“At a time when global attention is focused on Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Mr Armeftis continues his usual activity on social media, without, it seems, feeling the need to address the citizens of his city,” the Cyprus branch of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement said on Tuesday.

The group added, “If what his associates are claiming on social media is true — that he rejected the invitation from the outset — then he must publicly and officially confirm this, and state what actions he intends to take regarding the misleading use of his name by the Israeli organisers.”

BDS went on to criticise the mayor’s past participation in events it described as “serving Israeli interests,” saying that his current lack of a clear position “amounts to contempt for his constituents and the institutions he has chosen to represent.”

The group called on Armeftis to “finally take a stand and condemn the genocide in Gaza as a minimal gesture of solidarity with the city’s Palestinian and Lebanese residents,” and to clearly state whether he plans to attend the upcoming conference.

Although Armeftis was previously listed as a speaker at the event, his name had been removed from the conference website as of Tuesday evening.