The slogan “All Eyes on Rafah” has surged in popularity on social media in response to a devastating explosion in Rafah, one of Gaza’s few remaining safe zones amidst the prolonged Israel-Hamas conflict. This slogan reflects a collective call to monitor and bring attention to the ongoing developments in the beleaguered Palestinian territory.
What happened in Rafah?
The tragic incident in Rafah occurred on May 26, in Tal as-Sultan district, where makeshift tents housed Palestinian civilians displaced by ongoing bombings. The explosions resulted in the deaths of at least 45 people, predominantly women and children.
Conflicting claims
Palestinian officials attribute the devastation to Israel, alleging that seven 900-kg bombs and missiles were dropped on the displacement camp. Conversely, Israel asserts that the attack targeted two Hamas leaders, Yasin Rabia and Khaled Nagar, who were allegedly hiding in the area. The Israeli Embassy in Manila mentioned that two munitions were used in what they described as a “precise strike” intended to neutralize the Hamas leaders. Israel also suggested that secondary explosions from weapons and ammunition stored in the camp might have contributed to the civilian casualties.
Social media response
In the aftermath, an AI-generated image featuring refugee camps in Rafah with the message “All Eyes on Rafah” emerged and quickly went viral, being shared tens of millions of times. This image has resonated deeply with Instagram users, including many from the Philippines, and has been widely circulated alongside explanatory posts on Facebook. The slogan serves as a reminder to Israel that the world is closely watching the situation in Rafah, where over 36,000 civilians have reportedly been killed since Israel’s retaliation for Hamas’ surprise attack in October 2023.
🍉🍉🍉#alleyesonrafah #freepalestine pic.twitter.com/AifGA3WMcI
— alfin rizal 𝕏 (@alfinrizalisme) May 29, 2024
#AllEyesOnRafah pic.twitter.com/jn7XlYOSky
— Travis Head 🇦🇺 (@ImTravisHead) May 28, 2024
Gaza 2023- 2024 🇵🇸
— • (@Al__Quraan) May 28, 2024
You can see genocide from space#AllEyesOnRafah pic.twitter.com/OVcb7EzTG2
International reactions
The international community has responded with a mixture of condemnation and calls for restraint. The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, stated that Israel’s actions had not crossed the threshold to withdraw support. Nevertheless, Israel faced significant criticism from other quarters. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate cessation of operations, emphasizing that there are no safe areas in Rafah for civilians and urging respect for international law. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres also condemned the incident, reiterating the need to end the ongoing “horror” in Gaza and stressing that there is “no safe place” in the territory.