WASHINGTON

US film star Mark Ruffalo has sharply denounced the ongoing famine in Gaza, saying it is a "man-made disaster" and appealing to world leaders to intervene to end Israel's war.

"This is not a natural disaster. It's not a drought. This is a man-made disaster. It's a man-made criminal act to kill civilian populations, and it's being perpetrated by Israel and the IDF," Ruffalo said in a video posted to the American social media platform Instagram.

"Don't let Gaza starve. Speak up. Don't stop until there's a just and lasting peace. Yes, we must stop this. We must bring the hostages home, and we must stop the killing of the children. More than 80% of the people who have died in this war are civilians. It's insane. Do something," he added.

Ruffalo, who has starred in multiple big-budget and Oscar-contending films, including The Avengers, called on world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, to "do something" to end the war.

"You say you care about starving people. You say you want to stop the war. Do something," he said. "Germany, do something. Europe, do something. UK, do something. We're going to sit here and watch this happen? It's insane. It's heartbreaking."

Israel has killed more than 62,700 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.