Five Israeli men accused of gang-raping a British holidaymaker in September are now on trial in Cyprus.
The group, all aged between 19 and 20, from the Israeli Arab town of Majd al-Krum, were arrested after the woman complained to police that she had been targeted after a pool party at her three-star hotel in the tourist resort of Agia Napa on September 3.
Officers quickly arrested the men holidaying at the party resort and were subsequently charged with rape, sexual assault by penetration, sexual intercourse by force, rape by forcible sexual penetration, indecent assault on a woman, sexual harassment and kidnapping.
The five appeared in the city of Famagusta on Thursday in a courtroom packed with their relatives who showed up to plead their innocence and express support.
All five defendants, who deny the charges, kept a straight face throughout the proceedings but could not contain their emotions as the hearing ended.
Families flocked to hug the defendants before they were led away to return to their cells, with one of the men on trial breaking down in tears as he hugged his mother.
The case bears searing similarities to a 2019 incident in which another female British holidaymaker claimed she was raped by a group of Israeli men.
Women’s rights activists set up a banner in front of the Famagusta court in Paralimni, where five Israeli tourists will stand trial for allegedly gang-raping a young British woman in a popular Cypriot resort a month earlier, on October 5, 2023.
Cypriot police cars transport Israeli tourists to the Famagusta court in Paralimni, to stand trial for the alleged gang rape of a young British woman in a popular Cypriot resort a month earlier, on October 5, 2023
Cypriot police cars transport Israeli tourists to the Famagusta court in Paralimni
The Cypriot and European flags fly in front of the Famagusta court in Paralimni, where five Israeli tourists will stand trial for allegedly gang-raping a young British woman in a popular Cypriot resort a month earlier, on October 5, 2023.
According to a leaked report, the alleged victim had bruises and injuries consistent with an assault and a statement from her was read by the prosecutor who carried out the horrific attack, which is too graphic to publish.
During pre-trial hearings, the court also heard that several employees had witnessed the aftermath of the alleged attack and would testify – including how they saw the victim flee by climbing out of a second-floor window at the Fedrania Gardens hotel.
A forensic examination of the room where the attack took place found traces of blood on the floor and on sheets on the bed.
The woman told police she was forcibly taken to the hotel room after one of the men started flirting with her and after he attacked her, the others joined in.
The alleged victim’s lawyer, Michael Polak of Campaign Group Justice Abroad, told MailOnline: ‘We are pleased that the case is moving forward and look forward to a just resolution.’
But Nir Yaslovitzh, who represents two of the suspects, said: “A review of the investigative material shows that the investigative material collected by the police is full of holes, like Swiss cheese.
“I am confident that, as in the previous case in Ayia Napa, about the rape that never happened, in the present case it will also be proven that my clients are innocent of any crime.”
At the hearing Thursday morning, lawyers for the defendants said they had still not seen key evidence, including a DNA report that one lawyer claimed would exonerate his two clients.
The DNA report is expected to arrive in court later today, the prosecutor said.
Former Cypriot MP Skevi Koukouma attended the hearing with some volunteers from the Pogo women’s group association, stating that they wanted to send a message that “victims should feel they can speak out and be believed.”
“They are not alone,” the group said.
The group, all aged between 19 and 20, were detained after the woman complained to police earlier this month that she had been targeted after a pool party in Ayia Napa (file image)
A relative of one of the five Israelis covers her face with a bag as she leaves the Famagusta district courthouse in Paralimni, Cyprus.
Earlier this month, the woman who was the victim of the 2019 assault told MailOnline exclusively: ‘We send our sincere support to the young woman at the center of these reports.
“We hope that the Cypriot authorities do not further insult the victim, which led to pre-trial detention and the unlawful prosecution which was successfully appealed at great emotional and financial costs.
‘This was achieved with support from UK media, politicians and with funds raised through GoFundMe and from individual donors for which we remain extremely grateful.’
The now 22-year-old had gone from victim to suspect after police dismissed her claims, saying she had made them up. She was eventually given a 16-week suspended sentence in January 2020 before the sentence was overturned by the High Court of Cyprus.
The five defendants are now being held in custody until the next hearing, which will take place on October 16.