Prince William says he wants Israel-Hamas War to end, aid to increase: 'Too many have been killed'

Prince William said Tuesday he wants the war between Israel and Hamas to end "as soon as possible," for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip to increase, and for the people taken hostage in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, to be released. 

"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," the Prince of Wales said in an official statement, which comes ahead of a visit Tuesday to discuss the humanitarian response in the region. Details about the visit were not immediately clear. 

"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 hostages are released," he also said. "Sometimes it is only when faced with the sheer scale of human suffering that the importance of permanent peace is brought home."

Prince William was the first senior British royal to officially visit Israel and Palestine in 2018. He is expected to attend a synagogue next week to hear about efforts to address antisemitism, per Reuters. 

Fighting has been ongoing since Oct. 7, when terrorists invaded Israel and killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 others. Around 130 people still remain hostage in Gaza. Israel responded militarily, and the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatant and civilian casualties, says that more than 29,000 people have been killed since the war began.

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on X or Instagram.