Prince William’s statement has been “welcomed” by Rishi Sunak and the UK Government as the prince spoke out against fighting in Gaza.
Yesterday, the Prince of Wales released a statement concerning the conflict in the Middle East and said that he would “want to see an end to the fighting.”
The UK Government welcomed William’s intervention voicing their approval of his comments and stating that it was in line with their own beliefs.
A PM spokeswoman said his message "is consistent with the Government position and we welcome that intervention. It is important that we speak [with] one voice as a nation.”
Rishi Sunak welcomed Prince William's statement about fighting in Gaza
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The prince’s statement in full reads: “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.
“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.
“Sometimes it is only when faced with the sheer scale of human suffering that the importance of permanent peace is brought home.
“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.”
The statement from Prince William GB News/ Prince of Wales Prince William’s rare statement has raised questions over whether the Royal Family should speak out on political issues or remain neutral.
GB News Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker said that William’s statement shows a “clear difference” between him and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II who “would never have done this.”
However, William’s father, King Charles, has previously spoken out about the “heartbreaking loss of life” in Israel and Gaza and called for religious tolerance.
An Israeli spokesperson has already responded to the prince’s calls to end the fighting arguing that they would also like to see an end to the fighting once their hostages are released.
Prince William has stressed the "importance of permanent peace" in his statement GettyLATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Prince William visited the British Red Cross headquarters yesterday
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Eylon Levy, an Israeli government spokesman, said: "Israelis of course want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible, and that will be possible once the 134 hostages are released, and once the Hamas terror army threatening to repeat the October 7 atrocities is dismantled.
"We appreciate the Prince of Wales’s call for Hamas to free the hostages.”
Last week Rishi Sunak also voiced his concern about the loss of life in Gaza during a call with the Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel.
Sunak said the UK was “deeply concerned about the loss of civilian life in Gaza,” and “the immediate priority must be negotiating a humanitarian pause to allow the safe release of hostages and to facilitate considerably more aid going to Gaza.”
However, the UK Government does continue to support “Israel’s right to defend its people against Hamas’ terror and ensure its long-term security.”