Prince William called on Tuesday for an end to the fighting in Gaza, saying too many people had been killed, in an usually direct intervention for a member of the British royal family.
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William, the 41-year-old heir to the throne, made the statement on the day he visited London-based aid charities working in the region, which his office said was aimed at recognizing the human suffering caused by the Middle East conflict.
The Prince of Wales, who in 2018 became the first senior British royal to make an official visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories, will next week visit a synagogue to hear from young people who are involved in tackling hatred and antisemitism as part of his engagement schedule.
"I remain deeply concerned about the terrible human cost of the conflict in the Middle East since the Hamas terrorist attack on 7 October. Too many have been killed," William said.
"I, like so many others, want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible. There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza. It’s critical that aid gets in and the hostages are released."
With his father King Charles currently absent from official public duties as he undergoes treatment for cancer, William has been expected to take on more high-profile engagements.
In general, British royals avoid making statements on political issues, but before his father became king, he spoke out on matters close to his heart.
"Sometimes it is only when faced with the sheer scale of human suffering that the importance of permanent peace is brought home," William said.
The war in Gaza started on Oct. 7 when Hamas fighters burst into southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages.
King Charles called the attacks "barbaric acts of terrorism".
Shortly after his visit, the prince posted on his and his wife's Instagram that the visit on Tuesday was the first in two, to hear about the human effects of the ongoing Middle East conflict. The second visit, Buckingham Palace says will be in the coming weeks.