If you’re on social media, you’ve likely encountered an image featuring tents arranged to spell out “ALL EYES ON RAFAH” amidst rows of makeshift shelters. This illustration has gone viral, amassing over 47 million shares and sparking widespread conversation.
Experts suggest that the image bears the hallmarks of being AI-generated, and its viral nature has prompted discussions about its impact on activism and war coverage on social media.
What is ‘All Eyes on Rafah’?
The phrase “All Eyes on Rafah” is a slogan used by various groups and individuals, including organizations like Save the Children, key campaigners, and everyday people. Although the hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah has gained traction across social media, the most impactful instance is a widely shared image on Instagram stories.
Instagram stories are temporary posts that typically disappear after 24 hours unless saved in the “highlights” section. The “All Eyes on Rafah” image is a template that users can easily share by tapping the “add yours” button. While some add links directing people to write to their local MPs about the issue, many simply repost the image as-is.
What does ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ mean?
Efforts to contact the original creator of the image have been unsuccessful, and they have not spoken to other media outlets, leaving their initial purpose unclear. However, Dan Angus, a professor of digital communication and director of Queensland University’s Digital Media Research Centre, argues that the original intent is less important than how people are using it now.
“Even if there was some kind of ulterior motive in this case… I don’t think it matters much based on the way people are adopting this,” Professor Angus says. “People are remediating it in their own way.”
The image is primarily being used to show solidarity with Palestinians affected by the war in Gaza and to raise awareness about the situation in Rafah.
Where did ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ start?
Without input from the original poster, the exact inspiration for the phrase remains unclear. Some reports link it to comments made by Richard Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization’s representative for the West Bank and Gaza, during a press conference in February. Peeperkorn, speaking from Rafah via an audio call disrupted by connectivity issues, remarked that “all eyes” were on the feared hostilities in Rafah. This was echoed in a UN press release and a headline by Health Policy Watch.
The Instagram template appears to have originated from an account with the username shahv4012. Although unconfirmed by the account holder, it’s evident that the image doesn’t depict the actual scene in Rafah. Experts suggest it was created using AI technology.
How do we know the image isn’t real?
The image does not match Rafah’s topography. Professor Angus notes its “general aesthetic” as typical of an AI-generated image, citing the shadows and perfect symmetry of the tents, as well as an “AI smoothness” that looks more stylized than a real photograph. It shows a vast expanse of tents on reddish soil with snow-capped mountains in the background, which contrasts with actual photos of refugee tents on sandy terrain in Rafah.
Why is the ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ Instagram template going viral?
The recent deaths of people sheltering in tents in Rafah have caused international outrage, focusing public attention on the situation. The image’s shareability is enhanced by its lack of graphic content, which avoids violating social media platform guidelines. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, allows graphic images in discussions about human rights abuses and armed conflicts to raise awareness, but there are limitations.
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