If you were on social media within the past 24 hours, you would probably see the viral “All eyes on Rafah” image, generated by artificial intelligence (AI) and shared over 43,5 million times on Instagram alone.
The image depicts lines of tents, supposedly illustrating the forced displacement of over a million Palestinians in Rafah, seeking refuge from Israel´s bombardment. However, graphic images of the so-called safe zone are now another massacre sight sparking international outrage.
Almost eight months into Israel´s escalated attack on Palestine, images of the bombardment of refugee camps are not something new. Israel has already targeted other areas of refuge since October 7, including Jabalia camp resulting in hundreds of deaths. Therefore, many are asking why this image has managed to go viral.
People have jumped to highlight the false image that wrongly depicts the situation in Rafah, as the picture looks almost idyllic, with a pleasant cloudy sky and equally spaced-out tents. When in reality Rafah is the makeshift home to around 1.4 million people who have likely been forced out of their homes numerous times, are grieving loved ones, and are living in squalor without basic amenities, privacy, dignity, and safety.
Angry social media users have hit back at those sharing the AI, clean illustration, and far less graphic version of what is happening in Rafah, by re-writing the words “All eyes on Rafah,” across images showing real photos of body bags lined up, surrounded by grieving families.
Others have criticized those who are sharing the viral post when they have stayed silent on any other massacre in Palestine. Accusing posters of “trend hopping,” calling people out for being “superficial,” and only sharing something when it is viral.
“I’ve only seen (the viral image) in stories of people who haven’t said a single thing since October,” said one user on X.
Meanwhile, some believe that the image has been widely reshared as it uses Instagram´s new feature, of allowing its users to seamlessly upload the image as a template.
One user on X wrote: “Palestinian journalists have been risking their lives for months to document every single massacre and instead people are reposting an AI-generated “art” that says “all eyes on Rafah” and tells us nothing about what is actually happening on the ground or gives us any action items.”
Many celebrities have taken to social media to repost the highly criticized more aesthetically pleasing image including supermodel Bella Hadid, American actor Aaron Paul, and British singer Dua Lipa.