All Eyes on Rafah

AI-generated "All Eyes on Rafah" image that went viral on Instagram in May 2024
The phrase on a placard at a demonstration in Helsinki, Finland, in February 2024

"All Eyes on Rafah" is a pro-Palestinian political slogan during the Israel–Hamas war and Rafah offensive, mostly used on social media.[1][2][3]

The phrase derives from a comment made by Richard "Rik" Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization's representative for Gaza and the West Bank,[4][5][6] when he told journalists at the UN in February 2024 that "All eyes are on Rafah".[7] This extract from Peeperkorn's broadcast began to be shared when the Rafah offensive began in early May, and an AI-generated image of the slogan went viral on Instagram later that month.[7]

The hashtag #alleyesonrafah has been featured in videos viewed millions of times on TikTok,[8] and the slogan has been used internationally at protests.[7]

  1. ^ "'All Eyes on Rafah' image shared by millions on Instagram following Israeli airstrike". NBC News. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Why 'All Eyes on Rafah' is trending as Israel ramps up offensive on Gaza city". India Today. 2024-05-29. Archived from the original on 2024-06-02. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  3. ^ "'All eyes on Rafah' AI-image goes viral on social media". Al Jazeera. 2024-05-29. Archived from the original on 2024-06-02. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  4. ^ Lau, Evelyn (2024-05-29). "'All Eyes on Rafah': The meaning behind the post going viral on Instagram". The National. Archived from the original on 2024-06-02. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  5. ^ Prinsley, Jane. "What is the 'All Eyes on Rafah' graphic and who is behind it?". www.thejc.com. Archived from the original on 2024-06-02. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  6. ^ "'All Eyes on Rafah' image garners millions of shares in latest social media solidarity campaign". Arab News. 2024-05-29. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  7. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference BBC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Explainer: What is 'All Eyes on Rafah' and why has it gone viral?". Newshub. Archived from the original on 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2024-05-30.