The “All Eyes on Rafah” slogan has emerged as a global rallying cry on social media, with huge support for the Palestinians from people in India and across the globe amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The comes in the wake of war which began when Hamas and other militants burst into southern Israel in a surprise attack on Oct 7, killing some 1,200 civilians and abducting around 250. More than 100 were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israel responded to the attack with a massive air, land and sea offensive that has killed at least 36,096 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
What is the ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ Campaign?
The slogan urges people worldwide to focus on Rafah, where around 1.4 million people have taken refuge from the violence in Gaza. Despite the large civilian population, Israel continues its offensive in the region.
This campaign comes in the wake of a weekend Israeli attack that claimed over 40 lives in Rafah. The strike only added to the surging international criticism Israel has faced over its war with Hamas, with even its closest allies expressing outrage at civilian deaths.
Several Bollywood celebrities have also come forward to express support for the people of Palestine. Some of celebrities include Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Tripti Dimri, Samantha Prabhu, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Swara Bhasker, and Dia Mirza.
Who Coined The Term
The “All Eyes on Rafah” phrase originated from a comment by Rick Peeperkorn, director of the World Health Organisation’s Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In February, Peeperkorn said, “All eyes are on Rafah,” days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an evacuation plan for the city, targeting what he claimed were the last strongholds of a militant group.
READ MORE: Rohit Sharma’s Wife Ritika Sajdeh Trolled for ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ Story on Instagram, Deletes it Later
Viral AI Image
After activists and humanitarian groups launched a social media campaign to spotlight the dire conditions in Gazan city, an image depicting tents arranged to spell out the slogan went viral on the internet. US media outlets said that the image was first shared on Instagram and was widely less than 24 hours after it was posted.
However, doubts have been raised regarding the authenticity of the image. Some experts have suggested that the image could be one of the first instances of AI-generated viral activism pictures.
An associate professor of Middle East studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar who studies misinformation said the image “definitely looks” AI-generated, NBC reported. Signs that the image was AI-generated include its lack of photorealism, unusual shadows, and the unnaturally sprawling and symmetrical tent camp, indicating pattern repetition common in AI-generated images.
Counter of ‘All Eyes on Rafah’
Amid the Rafah activism, a counter-campaign has gained momentum on social media. Critics of this movement argue that anti-Israel activists are solely concentrating on the country’s military campaign and overlooking the actions of Palestinian groups like Hamas, who are accused of large-scale brutality.
“Dear ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ Influencers. All of these girls and women were brutally slaughtered on October 7th. 320 women and girls were killed. 100 women and girls kidnapped. Where were your Instagram posts? Were your eyes shut?” said one of the pro-Israel users on X. “Dear Instagram Influencers, have you ever said a word about the thousands of Palestinians whom invaded Israel, burned families alive, butchered children, shot anyone on sight and shot babies in their cribs? Hypocrites, all of them. I am sick of this Eye on Rafah,” wrote another one.
‘New Woke Project’ — What Some Indian Users said
After a host of Indian celebrities expressed support for the ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ campaign, some social media users were outraged. “Suddenly “all eyes on Rafah” is trending in India. Some Indian so-called youth icons who criticised #Kasmir_Files and called it a propaganda film! Today they are supporting the terrorist group #Hamas! Toolkit gang activated,” said one of the users on X.
“Make no mistake 99% of Wokes of India posting this All Eyes on Rafah might not even heard this name before today. They don’t even know what has happened but they are posting it because these Bollywoodiyas & Celebs have put up story on Instagram. New Woke project,” read another critical post on the campaign.
What Israel Said
Israel says it is carrying out limited operations in eastern Rafah along the Gaza-Egypt border, as its Western allies have warned against a full-fledged offensive in the city. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that a “tragic mistake” had been made, referring to the Israeli strike in Rafah.
“Despite our utmost efforts not to harm innocent civilians, last night there was a tragic mishap,” Netanyahu said Monday in an address to Israel’s parliament. “We are investigating the incident and will obtain a conclusion because this is our policy.”
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