The phrase “All Eyes on Rafah” has garnered significant global attention, highlighting the dire situation in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
This surge in awareness follows a devastating Israeli airstrike that killed at least 45 people, mostly civilians sheltering in tents, and injured hundreds more, many with shrapnel and burn wounds. The attack, which occurred late Sunday, has drawn widespread condemnation from global leaders.
The phrase “All Eyes on Rafah” quickly became a rallying cry on social media, with numerous posts condemning the deadly assault and calling for international focus on the plight of Rafah’s residents. The hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah appeared in over 195,000 posts and garnered millions of views on platforms like TikTok, also trending on Instagram with nearly 100,000 posts.
Despite a recent UN court directive to cease operations in Rafah, Israeli forces continued their assault on the border town. Israel described the civilian casualties as a “tragic accident” and asserted that the extent of the damage could not have been caused by its munitions alone. The Israeli army stated that the strike had targeted and killed two senior Hamas militants.
An image widely shared on social media showed a camp with tents arranged to spell out “All Eyes on Rafah,” emphasizing the need for global attention on the area where over 1.4 million Palestinians are seeking refuge from ongoing violence. This call to action highlights the necessity for the international community to remain informed and engaged with the unfolding events in Rafah as the Israeli offensive persists.
The slogan originated from a remark by Rik Peeperkorn, director of the WHO’s Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, who said in February, “All eyes are on Rafah,” after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an evacuation plan for the city ahead of planned attacks on what he described as the last Hamas strongholds.
Prominent influencers and celebrities, including actors Varun Dhawan, Swara Bhasker, Ritika Sajdeh, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Tripti Dimri, have amplified the movement by sharing “All Eyes on Rafah” graphics on their Instagram stories, drawing further attention to the crisis.
