Sean Penn compared the devastation caused by ongoing fires in Los Angeles to the damage in the Middle East in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Monday night.

“This has been kind of a worst-case scenario concern for everyone in the area for a long time,” Oscar-winning actor Cooper, 64, said in an interview in Pacific Palisades, an area burned by the fire.

The Santa Monica, California native continued, “It’s kind of like Gaza in the West up there,” alluding to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The Milk Star explained how shocking it was to see the fires break out quickly and destroy cities, even in areas where they are a concern every year.

“We know there are going to be wildfires in this area…so people are making a decision to live in this area,” the Mystic River star said. “But for the people who live particularly in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, etc., this is so unexpected.”

The Oscar-winning star defended the response amid harsh criticism aimed at senior officials including California Gov. Gavin Newsome and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

“Um, I don’t put too much emphasis on the grievance conversations in terms of response,” the Fast Times at Ridgemont High star said. “In fact, thank you to every single firefighter, we have great firefighters from Cal Fire and LA City, LA County and everyone that came out.”

“But when you have the kind of winds we’ve had, I don’t think humanity has found a solution to it that’s bigger and more powerful than us.”

The Dead Man Walking actor said it was devastating to see a longstanding community wiped out by the flames.

“It’s really special to see the entire heritage of a community,” he said. “I think of those nine-year-old kids who met on the corner every day on their bikes and knew every corner and every shop and shopkeeper – and it’s all gone – and in that sense it’s more personal.”

“I feel very, very immediately familiar. “I don’t have to grow to become familiar with this area – so many people we all know and care about have lost their homes.”

Amid a death toll of 24 on Monday night, the I Am Sam actor said he was grateful there were no casualties like the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, where the death toll was estimated at around 220,000 people, according to the United Nations.

“Thank God there are not as many deaths as in Port-au-Prince,” said the actor, who was involved in the relief effort 15 years ago.

Penn also talks about the efforts his nonprofit CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) undertook in the wake of the fires, including distributing cash vouchers, N95 masks and hygiene kits to people in need.

“We were on site the first day, working in the main shelter at the Pasadena Civic Center to meet immediate needs,” Penn said, “specifically cash assistance, which is two types of categories – those , the.” can apply and requires navigation in the application.

“And then there are those who, for various reasons, don’t have a Social Security number, who we can then use some of our funds for.”

He added: “You just have to slowly close your eyes to think about what it would mean if everything were suddenly gone.”

“Together with the emotional trauma of course – the money is a necessary freedom that you can just take day by day.”

According to the AP, officials said on Monday the death toll had reached at least 24, adding that the total number of victims was expected to rise due to the ongoing search for missing people.

Officials said Monday that the Palisades Fire was 11 percent contained, while the Eaton Fire was 27 percent contained, having decimated an estimated 62 square miles.

The National Weather Service said in red flag warnings that winds of 50 mph will further intensify conditions Monday through Wednesday, with an expected peak on Tuesday.

On Monday, President Joe Biden called on Congress to “step up” and provide the tens of billions of dollars that will be needed to rebuild affected areas. He said the federal government plans to pay the expenses in the next 180 days.

The president said at the White House that firefighters and first responders were “the angels” in their efforts to put out the fires, while Vice President Kamala Harris said the aftermath of the fires had been “truly heartbreaking.”