The speech by the heir to the British throne is unusual for the royal family, which does not usually speak out on current issues.
Britain’s Prince William has called for an end to the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible.
“Sometimes, it is only when faced with the magnitude of human suffering that we realize the importance of lasting peace“the prince said in a statement released Tuesday by his office at Kensington Palace.
However, he stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire, which the House of Commons will debate again on Wednesday.
The United Nations has warned against growing malnutrition in parts of Gazawhere humanitarian aid is struggling to reach the hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
The death toll continues to rise and the international community is increasingly concerned about the threat of an Israeli assault on Rafahwhere many Gaza residents have taken refuge to escape the fighting.
Taking a position
Although it is unusual for members of the royal family to speak out on issues as sensitive as the Gaza conflict, Prince William used careful language, speaking of universal humanity rather than taking sides.
In his statement, he underlines the _”_terrible human cost” of the attack carried out by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7 and the “urgent need to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza“.
The prince adds that, “like so many others”he wanted to see “the fighting ends as soon as possible”.
The prince plans to meet aid workers working in the region and take part in a discussion at a synagogue with young people of different faiths campaigning against anti-Semitism.
The British royal family is very aware that its public statements are subject to political interpretation, which explains why its members rarely express themselves on current issues.
William’s father, King Charles, however, has been very active in the fight against climate change.
Prince William has taken on a more prominent role since a cancer was diagnosed at his father’s house, the monarch having canceled his planned public interventions and currently limiting himself to office work.