King Charles and Queen Camilla have marked Israel‘s Independence Day by sending their ‘thoughts and prayers’ to Hamas hostages held in Gaza.
The husband and wife penned a moving letter to President Isaac Herzog to celebrate Israel’s 77th Independence Day, offering him their ‘best wishes’ in the year ahead.
Charles and Camilla congratulated the country on the ‘auspicious occasion’ alongside a powerful message of solidarity and concern for the hostages still held in Gaza.
The letter, signed by the King, read: ‘We are all too aware of the immense pain and suffering still being endured by those who remain hostage in Gaza.
‘Our special thoughts and prayers remain with them and their families, as well as with all those whose lives have been so dreadfully devastated by this conflict.’
He added: ‘It is my profound hope that they are able to return home to their loved ones and that there is peace in the region.
‘My wife and I convey our best wishes to you and to all your countrymen for the year ahead.’
President Herzog welcomed the message with deep appreciation as he gave an address at the official Independence Day event at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.
King Charles and Queen Camilla (pictured) have marked Israel’s Independence Day by sending their ‘thoughts and prayers’ to Hamas hostages held in Gaza
The husband and wife penned a moving letter to President Isaac Herzog (pictured) to celebrate Israel’s 77th Independence Day
The letter, signed by the King, congratulated the country on the ‘auspicious occasion’ alongside a powerful message of solidarity and concern for the hostages still held in Gaza
President Herzog said: ‘Even on our national holiday – and especially on our national holiday – we cannot celebrate independence with a whole heart when our brothers and sisters are not with us. Israel as a nation long for them, for their freedom.’
Israel continues its efforts to secure the release of the 59 hostages held in brutal captivity now for 572 days by Hamas since the terror organisation’s mass terror attack against communities in the south of Israel, on October 7, 2023.
Charles’ letter comes less than a day after he issued his own personally-penned message describing the ‘daunting’ and ‘frightening’ experience of being told he had cancer.
In what has been described as his most ‘poignant’ and ‘deeply personal’ words about the illness fifteen months after his own diagnosis, the monarch also revealed he had taken inspiration from the late Dame Deborah James.
She urged sufferers, he said, with moving magnificence to ‘find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope.’
His Majesty opened up in a message to fellow sufferers as they are invited to Buckingham Palace tonight to recognise the incredible work of community-based cancer organisations.
The King is himself still undergoing regular treatments as someone ‘living with cancer’, although aides say his recovery continues in a ‘very positive direction, as reflected with the very full national and international diary programme’ he is undertaking.
Charles’s daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was also diagnosed with cancer within weeks of his own last year and underwent preventative chemotherapy.
King Charles speaks to guests during a reception in Buckingham Palace, London, on Wednesday
King Charles speaks with Alistair and Heather James, the parents of the late broadcaster Deborah James, during a reception in Buckingham Palace
In what has been described as his most ‘poignant’ and ‘deeply personal’ words about the illness fifteen months after his own diagnosis, the monarch also revealed he had taken inspiration from the late Dame Deborah James (pictured with Prince William)
In his message Charles takes pains to personally thank those who so ‘selflessly’ work giving care, comfort and reassurance to the 390,000 people who receive a new cancer diagnosis across the UK each year – more than 1,000 a day -as well as those working to treat the disease, research cures and fundraise for them do do so.
‘Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones,’ he writes.
‘As one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity,’ he writes.
‘It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening, many of whom I have known, visited and supported over the years.
‘And it has reinforced what I have long observed during these visits – that the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.’
He added with added poignancy: ‘You have my whole family’s deepest admiration and gratitude.’
