Actor Cate Blanchett calls for Gaza ceasefire and urges EU to step up support of refugees

Actor Cate Blanchett, a goodwill ambassador for the U.N.’s refugee agency UNHCR, on Wednesday urged the European Union to step up support of refugees and host countries and ensure the bloc’s policy “focus on their protection and not on fortifying borders“. The Australian actress said she felt “shame and regret“ over her country’s hardline policies that for years has seen asylum-seekers sent to detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru and barred from settling in Australia. The Oscar-winning actor also urged Israel to accept a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. Watch here. #cateblanchett #europeanparliament #Israel