Twelve Israelis have been arrested in Cyprus after a British woman alleged she had been raped.

The 19-year-old woman filed a complaint with police in Ayia Napa on Wednesday morning, saying that she had been gang-raped, Sky News reports.

The boys, most of whom are aged between 16 and 18 except one, who is 15, appeared in court on Thursday, but have not yet entered any pleas.

They have been remanded in custody and police have been given a further eight days to investigate.

Hebrew-language media reported that some of the suspects were due to be inducted into the Israeli army in the coming days, including joining elite combat units.

Police say the investigation is in its early stages and it is not yet clear how many people are suspected of being involved.

Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement that its diplomats had been allowed to speak with the suspects.

It said: "The Israeli consul in Nicosia, Yossi Wurmbrand, is following developments and is in contact with the detainees.

"Their families have been updated."

Yaniv Habari, the suspects’ representative, told Haaretz he had met them and they were in a “good mood”. He declined to comment on whether they deny the accusations.

He said: “So far the police have extracted DNA samples from them and at this stage I cannot provide further details. We are talking here about young boys, minors.”