Pacific Conference of Churches calls to end apartheid and occupation in Palestine and Israel

The Pacific Conference of Churches has affirmed the World Council of Churches’ call to end apartheid, occupation, and impunity in Palestine and Israel, and to protect every human life under international law.

General Secretary, Reverend James Bhagwan says they speak as a fellowship shaped by the Gospel and by the Pacific’s own struggle for dignity.

Bhagwan says their shared vision of an Ocean of Peace is demilitarised, decolonising, and rooted in right relationships and international law and as our Pacific Church Leaders declared in 2025, a prophetic voice expects to be hated—yet love compels us to tell the truth.

He says they also affirm the PCLM2025 charge to pursue Do Kamo transformation and liberation of the Pasifika household of God—in a time of war, climate loss, and denied self-determination; and they reaffirm positive peace—inclusive governance, ecological stewardship, economic fairness, women’s (Women Peace and Security), youth (Youth Peace and Security) and Indigenous leadership—while opposing nuclear weapons, deep-sea mining, and ecocide, because an Ocean of Peace cannot coexist with colonisation and neo-colonisation.

The General Secretary says they grieve every life taken and reject every hatred—antisemitism, anti-Arab racism, and Islamophobia; they affirm the World Council of Churche’s clear distinction between the Jewish people and the actions of the Government of Israel, and its rejection of all forms of racism.

He says that they pray for and accompany Palestinian Christians and all communities wounded by violence.

Bhagwan says peace requires justice; reconciliation requires truth; security requires equal rights and the end of collective punishment and occupation.

He says regarding plans by some Pacific governments to shift embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, they counsel restraint as such moves sit uneasily with their Ocean of Peace vision and with international law.

The General Secretary is urging governments to avoid steps that pre-judge Jerusalem’s final status or normalise ongoing violations.

He says keep missions in Tel Aviv until a just and negotiated settlement is reached.

Bhagwan says Ocean of Peace means consistency: they do not short-circuit self-determination abroad while calling for it at home.

He is also urging Pacific nations to recognise the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly.

The General Secretary says recognition is a non-violent, law-aligned act that affirms a people’s right to self-determination— consistent with our own decolonisation journeys in Maohi Nui, Kanaky, West Papua, Hawai‘i, and others across Oceania.

He says they affirm the WCC’s naming of Israeli apartheid and its call for consequences—targeted sanctions, divestment, and arms embargoes—and for full support to ICC and UN mechanisms investigating grave breaches.

Bhagwan says recognition isn’t picking a side in a war; it’s choosing the side of law, dignity, and the right of peoples to be free.

He says friends to all, enemies to none must mean principled non-alignment, not passive neutrality.

The General Secretary says engage all parties, yes; but be non-neutral on civilian protection, apartheid, collective punishment, and occupation. Our moral credibility depends on it, especially as we ask the world to hear our own claims for self-determination.

He says equally, their rejection of apartheid, collective punishment, and occupation must never slide into antisemitism, anti-Arab racism, or Islamophobia.

Bhagwan says they reject both supersessionism (which erases the Jewish people) and any theology that baptises injustice (which erases Palestinian dignity).

He says their unity will not be found in partisan alignments but in truth-telling, repentance where we have harmed one another, and courageous solidarity with all who suffer.

The reverend says an inclusive Ocean of Peace means we stand where people bleed— and we refuse every form of bigotry.

The General Secretary says they will pray, advocate, and accompany—expecting misunderstanding and hostility, yet anchored in hope.

He adds may God steady our canoe, that the Pacific might lead with courage, humility, and consistency until a just peace takes root in the land we all call holy.