Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie highlights plight of children in Gaza

Top Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie has criticised the ongoing war in Gaza and has blamed world leaders for refusing a ceasefire.

The 48-year-old, who continues to champion the cause of refugees, and who had held the post of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador, highlighted the plight in Gaza, especially those of children.

Jolie, who has visited refugee camps around the world after witnessing the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Cambodia while filming Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001, said that Gaza has been an "open-air prison" for close to two decades and added that it is becoming a "mass grave."

Taking to Instagram, Jolie posted: "This is the deliberate bombing of a trapped population who have nowhere to flee. Gaza has been an open-air prison for nearly two decades and is fast becoming a mass grave. 40% of those killed are innocent children.

"Whole families are being murdered. While the world watches and with the active support of many governments, millions of Palestinian civilians — children, women, families — are being collectively punished and dehumanised, all while being deprived food, medicine and humanitarian aid against international law," she added in the post.

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She further went on to say that Israel, Hamas and world leaders are complicit in these "crimes."

"By refusing to demand a humanitarian ceasefire and blocking the UN Security Council from imposing one on (or) both parties, world leaders are complicit in these crimes," Jolie, who has also championed human rights, women's rights and has strong views on child immigration and education, said in the post.

• More than 3,600 Palestinian children killed in 25 days of Israel-Hamas war