The slogan “All eyes on Rafah” has taken social media by storm as millions of users, including celebrities, share an image to raise awareness for the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The image, believed to be generated by artificial intelligence (AI), flooded Instagram stories following an Israeli strike that caused devastation in Rafah, resulting in the loss of an estimated 45 Palestinian lives and injuring another 200. The image depicts rows of tents in front of a mountain range with the words “All eyes on Rafah.”
This phrase originated from a statement made by Richard “Rik” Peeperkorn, the director of the World Health Organization’s Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, during a press briefing from Rafah. Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order for over 1 million residents to evacuate the city, the phrase has been widely quoted on protest signs and images, serving as a poignant call to focus on the crisis in Rafah.
The viral image, labeled “all eyes on Rafah AI image,” has been reposted on Instagram stories a staggering 45.3 million times as of Wednesday evening. Notably, numerous celebrities, including models Gigi and Bella Hadid, and actors Aaron Paul, Mark Ruffalo, Jenna Ortega, Nicola Coughlan, Susan Sarandon, and Priyanka Chopra, have shared the photo to amplify the message.
However, despite its widespread sharing, some social media users and activists have criticized the image for being seemingly AI-generated, according to experts. Despite this, Instagram has not labeled the image as such. Matt Navarra, a social media consultant, highlighted that the image, while not depicting real-world violence, has garnered viral reach due to its sanitized nature.
In response to the viral image, several pro-Israel creators have started posting their own versions of the image, including the state of Israel’s official Instagram account, with one version asking, “Where were your eyes on October 7?”
The “All eyes on Rafah” image has sparked a significant conversation on social media, drawing attention to the complexities of raising awareness for global crises and prompting diverse perspectives on the role of AI-generated content in shaping public discourse. As the conflict continues to unfold, the image’s viral impact underscores the power and influence of social media in shaping public opinion and mobilizing support for humanitarian causes.
