King Charles sends 'thoughts and prayers' to Israeli hostages and families

King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth wrote to Israeli President Isaac Herzog to express solidarity with the 59 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, now 577 days since the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

“My wife and I wanted to send Your Excellency and the people of The State of Israel our congratulations on the auspicious occasion of your seventy-seventh Independence Day,” the letter began.

“We are all too aware of the immense pain and suffering still being endured by those who remain hostage in Gaza,” King Charles continued.

“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.”

The monarch’s message was shared by Herzog last Wednesday during his remarks at the Israeli Independence Day ceremony at his official residence in Jerusalem.

The king added that it was his “profound hope” that the hostages would return home.

A few days after the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion and attack in 2023, Charles called Herzog to express his condolences and support. He said at the time that he was in “deep shock” over the “barbaric” actions of the terrorists.

On Tuesday, Herzog offered an update regarding the hostages while speaking to a delegation of foreign investors in Tel Aviv.

“We have brothers and sisters who are now in the dungeons of Gaza, our hostages. And every moment of the day, from every corner of the earth, we call, we scream out loud: ‘Bring them back home immediately.’ This is our highest priority,” he said.

“Right now, we are in a very fragile moment where there is ongoing, very tough dialogue on the one hand, and on the other hand, we are moving towards more steps militarily in order to bring back our hostages.” 

“I truly believe that all participants must go the extra mile, make an extra effort, take the extra step, so that we can see our hostages home immediately,” Herzog added.

The Israeli president and his wife, Michal, have dedicated countless hours to meeting with the families of the hostages, offering them encouragement and support. They have also hosted and visited numerous survivors of Hamas captivity.

The letter from King Charles arrived less than a day after he released a personal message to fellow cancer patients, relating to a “daunting and at times frightening experience.”