The escalation of Israeli shelling and airstrikes has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 37 lives outside the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Tuesday, sparking widespread international condemnation and giving rise to the “All Eyes on Rafah” campaign on social media.
The “All Eyes on Rafah” Campaign
The “All Eyes on Rafah” campaign is a poignant call to action from activists and humanitarian groups, spreading rapidly across platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This campaign urges global awareness, highlighting the plight of Palestinians affected by the ongoing conflict. The phrase signifies solidarity with those impacted by the strikes and has trended worldwide, drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in Rafah.
Several Indian celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Alia Bhatt, Richa Chadha, Kareena Kapoor, and Varun Dhawan, have voiced their support by sharing the viral phrase on their Instagram stories. The campaign has amassed up to 108,000 posts on Instagram, demonstrating widespread support.
The Situation in Rafah
On Tuesday, Israeli shelling and airstrikes targeted a cluster of tents in Al-Mawasi, west of Rafah, resulting in at least 21 deaths, according to Gaza health authorities. Among the deceased were at least 12 women. However, the Israeli military refuted these reports, stating that the IDF did not strike the designated humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi.
This incident occurred two days after an Israeli attack on Sunday triggered a blaze in a tent camp in a western district of Rafah, claiming at least 45 lives. The attack targeted a tent camp north of Rafah city in Tal as-Sultan, with reports from Al-Jazeera indicating many shelters were engulfed in flames with occupants still inside. The Gaza Government Media Office reported that Israel dropped seven 900kg bombs and missiles on the camp, with horrific videos emerging of the aftermath.
According to a BBC report, Israeli forces have reached the center of Rafah and seized a strategically important hill overlooking the nearby border with Egypt. Witnesses and local journalists observed tanks stationed at the al-Awda roundabout, a key landmark in the area.
The fighting in Rafah has forced over 1 million Palestinians to flee, many already displaced due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. They now seek refuge in squalid tent camps and other war-ravaged areas, lacking shelter, food, water, and other essentials for survival, according to the United Nations.
World Reaction to the Gaza Situation
Algeria has proposed a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and ordering Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah without delay. The draft calls for compliance with previous council resolutions advocating for the opening of all border crossings and humanitarian access to Gaza’s 2.3 million people, who urgently need food and other aid.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the situation in Gaza as a “humanitarian catastrophe,” warning of the risk of famine. He has urged Israel to facilitate the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance through all crossing points. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) also called for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.
Conclusion
The tragic escalation in Rafah underscores the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The “All Eyes on Rafah” campaign highlights the global call for awareness and action, urging an end to the violence and the delivery of essential aid to those in desperate need. As the world watches, the hope is for a swift resolution and relief for the affected populations.
