Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett on Wednesday called for a cease-fire in the Middle East.
"I am not Syrian. I am not Ukrainian," Blanchett, goodwill ambassador for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, said in an address to the European Parliament, adding: "I'm not from Israel or Palestine. I'm not a politician. I'm not even a pundit. But I am a witness."
She deplored "the human cost of war, violence, and persecution" across the globe, particularly in Israel and Gaza over the past few weeks.
"Earlier this week, UNHCR's high commissioner called together with several other humanitarian organizations for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and the immediate release of all civilians held hostage" in Gaza, she stressed, to the applause of the assembled MEPs.
Blanchett also cited ongoing upheavals in other regions of the world, including Ukraine.
"Globally, forced displacement has now passed the grim milestone of 114 million people," she explained.
Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas a month ago.
At least 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, have been killed since then. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.
