In a landmark statement, Prince William has said that “too many have been killed” in the Israel-Hamas war and called for the fighting to end “as soon as possible.”

The Prince of Wales said he remains “deeply concerned about the terrible human cost of the conflict in the Middle East since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October.”

"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."

The prince’s rare statement on the crisis comes off the back of news that he is set to “recognise the human suffering” caused by conflicts in Gaza, Israel and the Middle East by carrying out a series of engagements, his office said on Tuesday.

William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, said they have been “profoundly concerned by events that unfolded in late 2023 and continue to hold all the victims, their family and friends in their hearts and minds.”

Aiming to address concerns over the recent rise in anti-Jewish sentiment, the prince will visit a synagogue to hear from a diverse group of young advocates “against hatred and antisemitism.”

He will also speak to those providing humanitarian support in the Middle East and is expected to hear first-hand accounts from aid workers in Gaza.

"Their royal highnesses continue to share in the hope of a better future for all those affected,” William’s office said.

He will embark on the visits alone as the Princess of Wales recovers from abdominal surgery.

While maintaining a distance from the politics of the conflicts, William will carry on his father’s interest in building interfaith bridges and confronting religious intolerance since the king has stepped back from carrying out public visits due to his cancer diagnosis earlier this month.

The Prince of Wales became the first senior British royal to make an official visit to both Israel and the Palestinian territories in 2018. During the trip, he expressed his hope for “lasting peace” in the region.