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The scene displayed across multiple Instagram accounts: a vast array of tents arranged in neat rows with the phrase “All eyes on Rafah” clearly spelled out amongst them. This image has been shared by an astounding number of people on Instagram alone—surpassing 37 million shares as of Wednesday morning.
The sobering backdrop to this viral image is an Israeli airstrike that occurred on Sunday in Rafah, a city in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian refugees had sought shelter. According to local Palestinian medical services, the strike incited a fire that engulfed numerous tents.
The casualty count from this grisly attack has reached at least 45, as confirmed by Sky News, with heart-wrenching footage showing the aftermath and rescue efforts, including the retrieval of both the living and the dead from beneath the rubble. In one distressing video, a decapitated child is carried away by a grieving adult.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed that the aerial assault was an unintended “tragic mistake.” In contrast, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson suggested that much of the resulting blaze could not be solely attributed to the munitions deployed.
The “All eyes on Rafah” image has caught the sustained attention of global social media users, propelled into the spotlight by figures such as Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, artist Kehlani, and major Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan. Dua Lipa, the celebrated pop artist, has also used her platform to share messages incorporating the phrase “All eyes on Rafah.”
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Originally, the phrase can be traced back to WHO’s Gaza and West Bank representative Rik Peeperkorn, who stated “All eyes are on Rafah” as Israel poised to extend its ground invasion earlier in February.
Interestingly, the viral image seems to be one of the inaugural examples of viral activist art created via artificial intelligence.
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Marc Owen Jones, a specialist in misinformation and an associate professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, indicated to Sky News’ affiliate NBC News that the image indeed has markers of having been produced through AI technology. Among the clues he identified were its less-than-photorealistic quality, unnatural shadows, and the overly uniform and expansive layout of the tent camp—a hallmark of AI’s tendency to replicate patterns.
Despite its online popularity, images and videos showing the actual scenes of devastation are frequently obscured by social media platforms with sensitive content warnings. There is an ongoing debate among activists regarding the reasons why an artificial image is circulating more widely than real footage, which depicts the stark reality of conditions in Gaza.
Sky News reached out to Meta—the parent company of Instagram and Facebook—about this issue but did not receive an immediate response.
Explore further:
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The heavy impact of the Rafah strike
Destruction and fire following the recent Israeli strike in Rafah. Photo attributed to Reuters.
The widespread sharing of the image is reminiscent of the black square posted during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, which met criticism for being merely symbolic without being paired with concrete actions.
Social media consultant Matt Navarra speculates to NBC News that the image could represent a strategic move by activists to disseminate their message while abiding by the constraints of platform rules. Utilizing visuals with embedded text may thwart moderation systems that typically rely on text keywords, he surmised.
According to him, “It’s possibly circumventing some of the automated moderation on the platform, because it’s an AI-generated image and there isn’t anything in there that is massively dangerous or controversial,” he explained.
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FAQ section:
What occurred following the Israeli airstrike on Rafah?
Following the Israeli airstrike on Rafah, a fire broke out in an area where displaced Palestinians were staying, claiming at least 45 lives. The incident caused significant damage and ignited a wave of social media activism.
What triggered the widespread sharing of the “All eyes on Rafah” image?
The viral spread of the “All eyes on Rafah” image is attributed to a renewed surge in support for Palestinians online, with several celebrities amplifying the message through their social media platforms.
How was the “All eyes on Rafah” image generated?
The widely shared image appears to have been created using artificial intelligence and exhibits some common traits associated with AI artwork, such as pattern repetition and less realistic visuals.
Why are authentic images and videos from Gaza cloaked by sensitive content warnings on social media?
Social media platforms often classify graphic or disturbing content behind sensitive content warnings to shield users from potentially distressing material. However, this practice has sparked a conversation among activists regarding the attention given to artificial images over actual footage of events.
Has Meta responded to inquiries about the viral image and its impact?
As of the writing of this article, Meta has not provided an official response regarding the viral image’s circulation and the portrayal of real events on its platforms.
