British heir Prince William called today, Tuesday, for an "immediate cessation of hostilities" between Israel and Hamas, stressing that "many lives have been lost," thus breaking from the usual cautious stance of the British royal family. William, who is 41 years old, made this statement during his visit to several relief organizations operating in the Middle East, based in London. His office stated that these visits aim to highlight the humanitarian suffering caused by the conflict in the region.
William became the first senior member of the British royal family to make an official visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in 2018. His schedule for next week includes a visit to a Jewish synagogue, where he will listen to young people involved in combating hatred and anti-Semitism.
In a statement, the Prince expressed his "deep concern regarding the human cost of the conflict in the Middle East," stating: "Many lives have been lost. Like many others, I hope the fighting stops as soon as possible. Gaza is in dire need of increased humanitarian aid. It is essential that aid is delivered and hostages are released."
Prince William has rarely made public appearances since his wife Kate underwent surgery in mid-January, but he has several engagements in the coming days related to the conflict, focusing on humanitarian assistance or visiting a Jewish synagogue.
