In the darkest hour, I cling to the hope that a brighter future can be found..

>> Wills wants immediate end to Middle East conflict >>Israel 'sticks to demands as Red Cross tells of horror

- LUCY THORNTON & RUSSELL MYERS

PRINCE William issued a powerful and unprecedented yesterday to call for an "end to the fighting" in the Israel-Hamas war.

He said he is "deeply concerned about the terrible human cost" of the conflict, adding: "Too many have been killed."

Released as he visited the British Red Cross HQ in London, the statement called for more humanitarian aid for Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages.

Israel's government last night said it "appreciated" the royal's comments.

Spokesman Eylon Levy said: "Israelis of course want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible.

"That will be possible once the 134 hostages are released and once the Hamas terror army threatening to repeat the October 7 atrocities is dismantled.

"We appreciate the Prince of Wales' call for Hamas to free the hostages. We also recall with gratitude his statement from October 11 condemning Hamas' terror attacks and reaffirming Israel's right of self-defence against them.

The Mirror understands that Kensington Palace informed the Foreign Office about William's plans after he said earlier this week that he wanted to highlight the "human suffering" in the Middle East.

The Foreign Office then alerted the Government to the unusually strong royal statement.

It was made as Israel warned it would invade the southern city of Rafah if its remaining hostages are not freed within three weeks.

Over a million displaced Palestinians half of Gaza's population are crammed into Rafah, seeking shelter in what the Red Cross calls a "catastrophic humanitarian crisis". But William, 41, said he refused to give in to "despair".