As shocking images of burned bodies and severe injuries at the scene of the Rafah strike spread on social media, another photo showing tent camps for displaced Palestinians with a message that reads "All Eyes on Rafah" has gained significant traction worldwide.
This effort, reportedly led by activists and humanitarian groups, aims to gain global attention on Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip. The campaign highlights the challenges that residents face, such as living in cramped refugee camps without necessary aid.
Palestinian boys look at the destroy home of the Kurd family where eight family members were killed in an Israeli airstrike,in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on October 30, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (Photo : SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)
#AllEyesOnRafah Campaign
Tents at a refugee camp have been positioned to spell out #AllEyesOnRafah, serving as a poignant reminder not to overlook the plight of Gaza's southern city. With an estimated 1.5 million individuals seeking refuge following Israeli airstrikes, the image underscores the urgent need for attention and support.
#AllEyesOnRafah is believed to have started from a remark made by Rick Peeperkorn, who heads the World Health Organization's Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
He made this statement in February, soon after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed an evacuation plan for Rafah before attacks targeting what he alleged were the last strongholds of the militant group Hamas. However, the image appears to be one of the earliest examples of viral activism imagery generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
Marc Owen Jones, an expert in misinformation, suggests that the image's characteristics bear the hallmarks of AI creation. Several indicators, such as unnatural shadows and unnaturally symmetrical tent arrangements, suggest that the image was generated by AI.
Organizations such as Save the Children, Oxfam, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign have also embraced the slogan.
The hashtag has been featured in over 195,000 posts across social media, reaching millions of viewers. It trended on Instagram on Tuesday, with nearly 100,000 more posts on the platform.
According to TIME, nearly 45 million Instagram users have already shared the image as of Wednesday afternoon. Globally recognized personalities, including Australian cricketer Travis Head, British singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, model Bella Hadid, and actresses Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Susan Sarandon, have expressed solidarity with Rafah.
Amid ongoing attention on Gaza's situation, the momentum behind the "All Eyes on Rafah" campaign persists, drawing increasing support and echoing the chorus advocating for peace and justice for Palestinians.
The area has faced relentless bombardment from Israeli forces, destroying shelters and tragic loss of life. As Palestinians desperately search through the charred wreckage for survivors, the death toll has risen to at least 45.
Previously considered a humanitarian safe zone, Rafah now bears witness to the devastating toll of conflict on civilian lives. Israel's military offensive into Rafah commenced two days after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to halt its planned assault on Rafah.
The move has faced criticism from global leaders. Netanyahu described the deaths as "tragic." Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, over 36,000 Palestinians and approximately 1,500 Israelis have lost their lives.
