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Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president, has criticised Angelina Jolie after the actress and former UN envoy condemned the country’s offensive in Gaza.

Jolie, who represented the UN High Commission for Refugees, accused Israel of violating international law by “deliberately bombing children, women, families, deprived of food, medicine and humanitarian aid”.

Angelina Jolie, addressing a meeting on UN peacekeeping in 2019. AP

Calling for a ceasefire, she said world leaders were complicit in “crimes” and described Gaza as having been an “open-air prison” for nearly two decades.

Herzog accused the actress of “not offering the Israeli people any ability to defend themselves”.

The Israeli president has been at the forefront of Israel’s battle to win public support outside the Middle East.

Interviewed by Piers Morgan, Herzog said Jolie had never been to Gaza. “She never went to visit and see the facts on the ground,” he added.

“With all the respect, people in Gaza know there is war, but there is no humanitarian crisis that does not enable them to survive.”

Herzog continued: “There’s a major dramatic increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza which Israel has supported dramatically, in conjunction with the United States and United Nations and many other nations.

“The Gazan people can move there so we can uproot this terror regime. This is what we know. Angelina Jolie does not offer the Israeli people any ability to defend themselves by saying what she is saying.”

He added: “Gaza is a jail not because of Israel, Israel pulled out of Gaza to the last inch.

“Gaza is an Iranian base filled with terror smuggled with tons and tons and tons of ammunition – this is the tragedy that has befallen the Gazan people.

“Perhaps the outcome of this war will enable the Gazan people who deserve a decent good life to enjoy it under a different regime that will enable movement towards peace.”

Jolie had attacked Israel on Instagram. “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 of food, medicine and humanitarian aid against international law.”