So this may be why William suddenly issued a dramatic statement warning that “far too many have been killed” in the Gaza conflict. He urged more humanitarian aid and the release of hostages, and called for “an end to the fighting as quickly as possible.”
“Sometimes, it is only when we are faced with the sheer scale of human suffering that we realize the importance of lasting peace,” he said. “Even in the darkest of times, we must not give in to the advice of despair.”
Palestinians mourn their relatives who were killed in the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip.credit: AP
These sentiments should in no way seem controversial. Few can object to the article. Who can dispute his observation that “a very large number have been killed”? The total death toll since October 7 is believed to be more than 30,000 people, including more than 29,000 Palestinians killed and 1,400 Israelis.
His appeal for increased humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of Gazans, who have been bombed, shot and starved for four months, was not controversial either.
Of course, he was 100 percent right when he called for the release of Israeli hostages who continue to suffer from darkness and terror.
But this was by no means just another observation. As a central figure in the world's most famous royal family, his comments are more likely to be noticed by people around the world than just those of politicians.
The speech, unusual for a senior member of the British royal family, risked sparking a diplomatic rift with Israel, which responded by insisting that the fighting would end when all the hostages were released and Hamas was defeated.
William clearly knew that his statement would cause a stir because it was approved by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Downing Street. This left him vulnerable to allegations that he allowed himself to be used as a pawn in a diplomatic game. The Israeli reaction was measured but tinged with anger.
All this sparked intense controversy in the British press. times She described the statement as a “dangerous lapse in judgement” with an editorial saying it was a mistake to delete the warning that Hamas must be disrupted first. “In doing so, the heir to the throne crossed into the territory of politics – a highly controversial area at the time,” she added.
A leading conservative figure Nigel Farage He said on social media platform X: “I'm not sure our future king should do that. He should stick to the BAFTAs.”
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He wrote that William, who knows that the issues surrounding the Gaza crisis are highly politicized, felt he had some credibility to make the comments, having made a well-received visit to Israel and the West Bank in 2018. He is also expected to do so. Condemn the growing scourge of anti-Semitism in a speech in the coming days.
But the backlash following this week's intervention may suggest we are not witnessing the dawn of a new era of royal political maneuvering.
If his grandmother was able to keep her feelings about world affairs to herself for decades, William would likely also aspire to do the same. At a time when politicians are driving the world crazy, it's a good thing the future king will outsmart them.
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