On May 26, 2024, Israeli air forces launched a devastating airstrike in the Gazan city of Rafah, resulting in the loss of at least 45 lives. This attack occurred despite an order by the United Nations’ top court to “immediately halt” the military offensive. The world watched in horror as the situation unfolded, and the phrase ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ began to flood social media. Samantha’s heartfelt note on Rafah Attacks.
The power of social media became evident as an AI-generated image depicting the situation in Rafah circulated widely. This image has been shared over 33 million times on Instagram alone. The picture portrays tents forming the words ‘All Eyes on Rafah’, representing the area in southern Gaza filled with refugee tent camps. Celebrities from various fields joined the movement, expressing their solidarity with Palestine and condemning Israel’s bombing of the designated safe zone in Rafah.
Samantha’s heartfelt note:
The talented actress, Samantha Ruth Prabhu used her Instagram Stories to amplify posts critical of Israel’s attack on Rafah. She shared content calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need to protect innocent lives.
Her story had a post that has a poem , ”there’s a beheaded baby between us
we’re taking toast and
coffee and eggs
talking about the banality
of monday mornings
how emails should arrive
with trigger warnings
And there’s a beheaded baby between us
how did we come to
this the weekend
went by so fast
where we could shelter
from the world ignore
the sky and wait
for an untimely rain
but now the week of
promises and duties is here
with a beheaded baby between us where would we go from here?
we lie we lie
we’ll lie
on the bed we made”
and another story has, ”Nothing justifies bombing children.
No defense.
No theology.
No science.
No border.
No ethic.
No politic.
No history.
No leader.
No idea.
Nothing justifies this.” to express her grief towards what is happening in Rafah Attacks.
The ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ campaign sheds light on the grave conditions endured by people caught in the ongoing conflict. It serves as a reminder that innocent lives are at stake and underscores the urgency for both sides to establish a ceasefire. As the world watches, celebrities continue to use their platforms to raise awareness about the atrocities unfolding in Rafah.
In a world where social media can sometimes feel overwhelming, moments like this demonstrate its potential for good. The collective voice of celebrities and concerned citizens alike amplifies the call for peace and justice, transcending borders and boundaries.