The visual depicts a camp where tents are skillfully arranged to spell out the message “All Eyes on Rafah”.
The recent airstrikes by Israel in Gaza’s Rafah, claiming the lives of at least 45 Palestinians, including many children, within tents housing displaced individuals, have sparked condemnation from numerous countries and human rights organizations. According to witnesses quoted by Al Jazeera, the Tal as-Sultan area, designated as a “safe zone” in northwest Rafah, was targeted by a minimum of eight Israeli missiles.
Rafah, now a sanctuary for hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians from various parts of the Gaza Strip, faced an onslaught of Israeli ground and air attacks despite international concerns regarding civilian casualties. The assault resulted in several tents catching fire, leading to further casualties as the flames spread throughout the area. NBC reported that a fuel tank explosion, triggered by an Israeli airstrike, contributed to the inferno, exacerbating the tragedy.
All Eyes On Rafah: What the image depicts –
Amidst the proliferation of distressing visuals showcasing charred bodies and severe injuries on social media
, an image bearing the caption “All Eyes on Rafah” began gaining traction. This movement, orchestrated by activists and humanitarian organizations, endeavors to shed light on the dire circumstances in the southern city of the Gaza Strip. There, residents are compelled to reside in congested refugee camps devoid of essential humanitarian assistance.
The visual depicts tents within a camp strategically arranged to spell out the phrase “All Eyes on Rafah,” serving as a poignant call to action against overlooking the plight of Gaza’s southernmost city. Roughly 1.5 million individuals have sought refuge there following their displacement due to Israeli bombings.
Is that image valid/real ?
The image in question is raising speculation about its authenticity, potentially marking one of the earliest instances of viral activism pictures generated by artificial intelligence. Marc Owen Jones, a researcher specializing in misinformation, suggests that the image bears the hallmarks of AI creation. NBC highlights indicators such as unnatural shadows and unnaturally symmetrical tent arrangements, casting doubt on its authenticity.
Where does the phrase come from?
The motto is said to have started from an assertion by Rick Peeperkorn, overseer of the World Wellbeing Association’s Office of the Involved Palestinian Domains. He offered the remark in February, not long after Benjamin Netanyahu requested a clearing prepare of assaults focused on what the Israeli Top state leader then guaranteed were the final fortifications of the aggressor bunch Hamas.
How the image spread worldwide :
- Various support groups such as Save the Children, Oxfam, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign have embraced the slogan. Across social media platforms, the hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah has amassed over 195,000 posts, attracting millions of views. Additionally, it trended on Instagram on Tuesday, accompanied by nearly 100,000 additional posts on the platform.
- The image has rapidly gained traction, surpassing 29 million shares on Instagram within a mere 24 hours.
- Globally, the campaign has received widespread support, with notable Indian celebrities such as Varun Dhawan, Madhuri Dixit, Aly Goni, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Tripti Dimri sharing the “All Eyes on Rafah” image on their Instagram stories. Internationally, figures like Australian cricket player Travis Head, British singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, model Bella Hadid, and actresses Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Susan Sarandon have also expressed solidarity with Rafah.
- As the world closely monitors developments in Gaza, the momentum of the “All Eyes on Rafah” campaign continues to grow, amplifying the chorus of voices advocating for peace and justice for Palestinians.