Prince William visits the British Red Cross on Feb. 20, 2024.Photo:Kin Cheung - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Kin Cheung - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The Prince of Wales, 41, spent Tuesday morning visiting the headquarters of the British Red Cross in central London and released a rare statement on the crisis in the Middle East and Gaza Strip ahead of his visit.
“I remain deeply concerned about the terrible human cost of the conflict in the Middle East since the Hamas terrorist attack on 7 October,” Prince William said in a statement released ahead of his outing. “Too many have been killed.”
“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,” he added. “Sometimes it is only when faced with the sheer scale of human suffering that the importance of permanent peace is brought home.”
Prince William visits the British Red Cross on Feb. 20, 2024.Kin Cheung - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince William concluded, “Even in the darkest hour, we must not succumb to the counsel of despair. I continue to cling to the hope that a brighter future can be found and I refuse to give up on that.”
A Kensington Palace spokesperson tells PEOPLE that Prince William has followed the region closely since his visit in 2018 when he traveled to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, meeting with then-President Reuven Rivlin and the Palestinian leader President Mahmoud Abbas. Taking in a four-day tour in June 2018, the royal stopped in Tel Aviv, Ramallah and Jerusalem, making him thefirst British Royal to make an official visit to Israel. While he made aprevious statementin October, the extent of human suffering led him to make the statement today.
Prince William visits British Red Cross on Feb. 20, 2024.Kin Cheung - WPA Pool/Getty Images
As he moves ahead with more engagements to show his solidarity with those caught up in the human suffering in the region, Prince William is also planning to join a conversation at a synagogue with young people from a wide range of communities who are advocates against hatred and antisemitism.
He also met members of the charity’s psycho-social team, who provide mental health support to those who are enduring trauma and suffering around the world.
During the engagement, Prince William also said he was “deeply moved as a father." He and his wife,Kate Middleton, have three children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
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Prince William is returning to royal duties after taking several weeks out of the public eye in January following Princess Kate’sabdominal surgery. Shortly after news of Kate’s surgery surfaced, it was also revealed that King Charles, 75, was diagnosed with cancer.
A royal source recently told PEOPLE exclusively that it’s up to the Prince of Wales (along withQueen Camilla) to be the face of the monarchy with two senior members unable to perform public duties.
“It is hard with Kate being ill as well, buthe will step up,” said a source close to the royal household.
Prince William visits the British Red Cross on Feb. 20, 2024.KIN CHEUNG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
KIN CHEUNG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“He wouldn’t want to put that pressure on William,” said the source. “He has always wanted to save his children from having that pressure too early and that will remain. Particularly as William has other priorities [with Kate].”
source: people.com
