Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “are supporting our partners and organizations on the frontlines in Israel” after the Hamas attacks, a statement on the couple’s website said.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex broke their silence over the fighting in southern Israel over the weekend, as the Israel Defense Forces prepared for a possible ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and injured over 2,700 after entering Israel, while 1,200 have been killed and around 5,600 wounded since Israel began bombing the Gaza Strip in response, according to Reuters.
“At The Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality,” a statement on Harry and Meghan’s website read. “We are supporting our partners and organizations on the frontlines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.”
King Charles III became the first royal to comment publicly on the crisis on Wednesday, when a spokesperson said: “This is a situation His Majesty is extremely concerned about, and he has asked to be kept actively updated.
“His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved. His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel.”
Shortly afterwards, Prince William and Kate Middleton followed up with a Kensington Palace statement: “The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days.
“The horrors inflicted by Hamas’s terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling; they utterly condemn them. As Israel exercises its right of self defence, all Israelis and Palestinians will continue to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come.
“Their Royal Highnesses hold all the victims, their families and their friends in their hearts and minds. Those The Prince of Wales met in 2018 overwhelmingly shared a common hope—that of a better future.
“In the midst of such terrible suffering, The Prince and Princess continue to share that hope without reservation.”
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
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