Prime Minister Rabuka condemns Gaza killings, hopes for peace declaration

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has condemned the mass killings in the conflict between Israel and Palestine in Gaza, amid growing concerns of the Israel-Pacific relationship.

Pacific leaders are expected to endorse Mr Rabuka's Ocean of Peace declaration on Wednesday, marking one of the main outcomes of this year’s 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) currently ongoing in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

The Ocean of Peace concept has stirred controversies around the Pacific-Israel relations, with Israel’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sharren Haskel, and his delegation expected to visit Papua New Guinea, Fiji and possibly New Zealand next month.

Regional civil society organisations have called out the leaders’ decision to neglect confronting regional issues.

Political and ethnic struggles still persist, the existential threat of climate change, increasing geopolitics and nuclear issues are generating concerns in the Pacific.

But Prime Minister Rabuka has reaffirmed his position: “Fiji will not interfere with sovereign decisions of sovereign nations”.

He is hopeful that the Pacific Ocean of Peace declaration will reach leaders in the Middle East and other parts of the world.

Fiji will also open its embassy in Jerusalem this month, receiving backlash from Fijians who condemn Israel’s mass killings in the Gaza conflict.

“I do not condone the killings in Gaza, nobody should,” Mr Rabuka said, emphasising that no time is right when a decision has to be implemented.

“When a government decides to do something, it must do it at that time with all considerations having been considered in our case.

“I believe that this question has been there for a long time. It was there before October 7, 2023, when Gaza opened up. So, it's not just a question that we have to deal with in view of the ongoing conflict in Israel and between Israel and the authorities in Gaza.”

Mr Rabuka reiterated that Fiji's support for Israel is based on its membership in the United Nations.

“The United Nations recognises Israel, the state of Israel and its boundaries. Whether we will or the world will accept a two-state solution or not, it will depend on what the United Nations comes up with.”  

Mr Rabuka said when Pacific leaders dialogue about self-determination, questions of ethnic self-determination within sovereign nations like Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia must not be ruled out.

The PIFLM is currently ongoing in Honiara.