-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email Nearly eight months since Israel waged war against Gaza after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, internet activism has been one of the main avenues people have used to amplify the pro-Palestinian cause and disseminate information about the latest developments. This week, the slogan "All Eyes on Rafah" jumped to the forefront of the online Palestinian movement, shortly after an Israeli missile hit what was designated as a safe zone for displaced Palestinians in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
At least 45 people were killed in a housing camp on Sunday, according to the Gaza Health Ministry . Following the deadly missile strike, outraged activists across the globe have been criticizing Israel's military offense and President Joe Biden for inaction after he had said a “major offensive” by Israel on Rafah would be a red line , The Associated Press reported . Soon after, an AI-generated photo of a field of refugee tents with the slogan “All Eyes on Rafah" sprawled across the center of the image began to pop up online.
Since the photo's release, it has been shared and reposted over 47 million on Instagram. While the intention of the photo may be to spread awareness of what has happened in Rafah, the mass distribution of the AI photo has also drawn criticism. Salon digs into the origins of the phrase and image, and the reasons for the backlash to those sharing it online: Related Sorry, Biden, Dark Brandon memes and a new TikTok account won't win .