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CELEBRITIES around the world have joined a social media campaign called “All eyes on Rafah”.
The viral post is being shared around the world in response to the Israeli airstrikes on May 26, 2024.
TwitterWhy is everyone posting All eyes on Rafah?
A social media post in response to the conflict between Israel and Gaza had over 34 million shares on Instagram within 24 hours.
The pro-Palestine image depicts tents in a camp arranged to spell out “All Eyes on Rafah”.
It is referencing an refuge camp in the southern region of Gaza which lost at least 45 people following an Israeli airstrike on May 26, 2024.
The strike hit an area housing displaced Palestinians, setting their tents alight, according to Palestinian medics.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labelled the strike a “tragic mistake”, while a spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said much of the destruction was caused by a subsequent fire that could not have been solely ignited by the type of munitions used
The slogan “All eyes on rafah” is said to have originated from a statement by Rick Peeperkorn, director of the World Health Organisation’s Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
He made the comment in February 2024, shortly after Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an evacuation plan for Rafah.
On social media, the hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah garnered over 1,95,000 posts with millions of views (as of May 29, 2024)
It was also trending on Instagram, with nearly 1,00,000 additional posts on the platform.
Reuters
GettyWhich celebrities have posted the All eyes on Rafah graphic?
The “All eyes on Rafah” image has also been shared by influencers, athletes, and celebrities.
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan reposted it, as did superstar singer Dua Lipa.
Leading Indian actors Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, and Varun Dhawan have also shared the viral image,
Support groups like Save the Children, Oxfam, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action, Jewish Voice for Peace and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign have also adopted the slogan.
Palestine on my mind, in my blood and on my heart. Always…
Bella HadidSupermodel Bella Hadid has also been vocal on social media.
Taking Instagram she said: “Palestine on my mind, in my blood and on my heart. Always…
“While I still have to go to work , even through this horror, to wear our culture makes me a proud Palestinian and I want the world to continue to see Palestine, wherever we go.”
Bella continued: “I want to highlight designers that have highlighted the Palestinian cause through the years.”
AFPWhat is the ‘Where were your eyes on October 7th?’ graphic?
In response to the “All eyes on Rafah” viral post, pro-Israeli supporters have released their own image.
On it it reads “Where were your eyes on October 7th?”, which is in response to the hostages taken by Hamas on this date.
The pro-Israel campaigners are calling out “All eyes on Rafah” as “hypocritical”.
TIMELINE OF WAR SO FAR
Oct 7, 2023: Hamas gunmen launch horror attack killing thousands of innocent civilians and taking hostages
Oct 7, 2023: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is at war and prepares revenge airstrikes on Gaza
Oct 19, 2023: Yemen’s Houthi terror groups start attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea linked to Israel including US and UK vessels
Oct 21, 2023: Aid trucks are sent through the Rafah border into Gaza
Oct 27, 2023: Israel launches ground offensive in Gaza
Nov 1, 2023: People try to evacuate Gaza completely as war ramps up but many forced to stay
Nov 15, 2023: Israeli troops enter Gaza’s biggest hospital, Al Shifa, after a siege of several days as they believe Hamas are working inside
Nov 21, 2023: Israel and Hamas announce a ceasefire to last seven days and see the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners
Nov 2023: Truce ends with only half of hostages returned
Dec 1, 2023: Fighting starts up again with first round of airstrikes in weeks
Dec 4, 2023: Israeli forces launch huge ground assault in southern Gaza, towards the main southern city of Khan Younis
Dec 12, 2023: Countries call on Israel to find a new ceasefire deal to stop civilian casualties
Jan 11, 2024: US and British warplanes, ships and submarines launch retaliatory strikes across Yemen
Feb 29, 2024: More than 100 Gazans die as they queued for humanitarian aid with Israel and Hamas having different views on what happened
April 1, 2024: Israeli air strikes kill seven aid workers for the World Central Kitchen charity
April 1, 2024: Iran’s embassy hit in Damascus by a suspected Israeli airstrike killing several military officers and a top general
April 13, 2024: Tehran responds to the embassy strike by firing hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel but most are intercepted
April 19, 2024: Israel hits back at Iran with precision strike near a nuclear site in Isfahan
April 23, 2024: Israel gear up for six-week assault on Rafah
April 24, 2024: Hostage claims 70 people held captive have died after being bombed
April 29, 2024: Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu could be issued with an international arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza
May 4, 2024: Hamas claim ceasefire deal has been agreed before Israel labels the move a “ruse” and shuts down any negotiations
May 10, 2024: Hundreds of thousands of Rafah civilians told to flee city as Israel prepares planned assault to eliminate all of Hamas
May 17, 2024: Several bodies of slaughtered Israeli civilians are discovered in Gaza and returned home to their loved ones
May 19, 2024: Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas terror chief Yahya Sinwar face arrests on war crime charges
May 22, 2024: Parents of Israeli hostages release video of Hamas thugs threatening to rape female soldiers they’ve captured and left bloodied
May 26, 2024 – Hamas launches multiple rockets at Tel Aviv after months of silence, Israel retaliates by launching a precision airstrike in Rafah that wiped out two senior Hamas chiefs
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