'All eyes on Rafah': Why AI generated image is trending on social media

Srinagar, May 30: The phrase ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ has become a rallying cry on social media platforms, particularly Instagram, where millions of users, including celebrities, have shared posts to draw attention to the plight of Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Rafah, a city bordering Egypt, has been a focal point of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

The AI-generated image is being shared in stories by more than 40 million people on their Instagram handles. This viral movement began following a devastating airstrike on May 26, 2024, which resulted in significant civilian casualties.

At least eight missiles hit Tal as-Sultan, an area in Rafah’s northwestern part, which was considered relatively safer. The area housed thousands of displaced Palestinians. Most of the tents in the area were damaged in the fire caused by the strikes, international media reported. Approximately 1.5 million displaced people were seeking refuge in the area.

NBC News quoted Matt Navarra, a social media consultant and industry analyst, saying, “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.”

“Pertinently, Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has been accused of removing videos filmed by Palestinian journalists covering the Israeli carnage in Gaza,” TRT reported.

Organisations like Save the Children, Oxfam, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign have previously used the slogan, “All Eyes on Rafah,” to protest against the invasion of Rafah city in Gaza.