Roughly 200 to 300 protesters joined the march on Saturday, carrying signs that were also pro-Palestine and critical of the US and Israel.

Chants included: “Say it loud, say it clear, British bases out of here.”

The territory, kept by the UK, covers about 98 sq miles (254 sq km) and is even patrolled by a separate, special police force.

These Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) are a lingering point of contention while also being highly interwoven into the island and a source of employment.

They encompass communities well beyond the fenced-off airbase of RAF Akrotiri, on the island’s southern tip.

“I think that we’d be a lot safer without them here,” said Shona Muir, holding up the British Bases Out banner with Natasha.

“Their presence alone here makes us more of a target.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence told the BBC: “Our bases in Cyprus play a crucial role in supporting the safety of British citizens and our allies in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East.”

“Just this week, we have flown Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets on sorties around the region, shooting down Iranian drones and defending innocent civilians from Iran’s indiscriminate attacks,” they added.

The Cypriot government has been at pains to stress that it’s a UK base, not Cyprus, that was targeted by a drone and that Cyprus has no involvement in the ongoing conflict.

A UK foothold in the Eastern Mediterranean, RAF Akrotiri has long supported operations in the Middle East and, more recently, reportedly been used for surveillance flights over Gaza.