UK’s Prince William says ‘too many’ have been killed in Gaza war

Prince William, the heir to the British throne, called Tuesday for an end to the war on Gaza as soon as possible.

In a statement released by his office at Kensington Palace, he stopped short of calling for an immediate "ceasefire" in Gaza as the House of Commons prepares for a vote on that issue on Wednesday.

"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," William said.

"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."

It is unusual for members of the royal family to say anything about highly charged issues such as the war on Gaza for fear of being drawn into political debates. But William used careful language focused on universal humanity rather than taking sides.

The UN is warning of growing malnourishment in parts of Gaza as little aid is allowed into the territory.