“All Eyes on Rafah” dominated social media on Tuesday as people worldwide rallied in support of Palestinians in the southern Gaza city, where Israel is conducting a massive ground operation.

Over the weekend, Israeli shelling and airstrikes killed at least 45 people, most of whom were sheltering in tents, in the southern Gaza City of Rafah. Launched late on Sunday, the strike also left hundreds of civilians with shrapnel and burn wounds, according to Gaza medics, and drew condemnation from world leaders.

Despite an order from the top UN court to halt operations, Israeli forces continued their assault on the border town. Israel described the loss of life as “a tragic accident” and stated that its munitions alone could not have caused the deadly blaze. The Israeli army added that the strike targeted and killed two senior Hamas militants.

What Does ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ Mean?

The attack sparked global outrage against Israel, prompting many to take to social media to condemn the deadly strike. Iran’s Embassy in India posted on X, explaining that “All Eyes on Rafah” refers to the ongoing genocide in Rafah, Gaza, where over 1.4 million Palestinians are seeking shelter.

An image, seemingly AI-generated, shows tents in a camp arranged to spell out “All Eyes on Rafah.” This area in southern Gaza is filled with refugee tent camps. The phrase urges bystanders to remain aware of the situation in Rafah, where up to 1.4 million people have sought shelter from violent fighting elsewhere in Gaza, as Israel’s offensive continues.

The slogan likely originated from a comment by Rick Peeperkorn, director of the WHO’s Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, who remarked in February, “All eyes are on Rafah,” following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order for an evacuation plan for the city ahead of planned attacks on what he claims are the last Hamas strongholds.

Influencers and celebrities in India, including actors Varun Dhawan, Aly Goni, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Tripti Dimri, shared “All Eyes on Rafah” graphics on their Instagram stories.

Support groups such as Save the Children, Oxfam, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign have also embraced the slogan.

The hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah has garnered over 195,000 posts and millions of views on TikTok. On Tuesday, it was trending on Instagram with nearly 100,000 posts.

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