What Does “All Eyes On Rafah” Mean?

all eyes are on Rafah's slogan meaning

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has once again thrust the region into the global spotlight. Amid escalating tensions and a ground offensive by Israeli troops in the heavily populated city of Rafah, a grassroots campaign with the slogan "All Eyes on Rafah" has gained significant traction worldwide. This call to action, amplified by activists, humanitarian groups, and even celebrities, seeks to draw attention to the unfolding crisis and its devastating impact on the civilian population.

What Does “All Eyes On Rafah” Mean?

all eyes are on Rafah

The campaign's origins can be traced back to a statement by Dr Rick Peeperkorn, the director of the World Health Organization's Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, who said in February, "All eyes are on Rafah." This was days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an evacuation plan for the city, ahead of planned attacks to eliminate what he claimed were the last remaining strongholds of the militant group Hamas.

As per the Guardian, the phrase "All Eyes on Rafah" is intended as a plea to the international community not to turn a blind eye to the situation in Rafah, where an estimated 1.4 million people have taken shelter after fleeing violent clashes elsewhere in Gaza.

World Leaders Condemn Israel

Leaders worldwide, including President Joe Biden, have criticised Israel for its attacks on Rafah. clarified that while the US would provide defensive arms to Israel, it would not supply weapons used in attacks on Rafah. The International Criminal Court has announced it seeks arrest warrants for Hamas and Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes. However, the court lacks the means to enforce these warrants once issued.

Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron posted on X, "Deeply distressing scenes following the airstrikes in Rafah this weekend...We urgently need a deal to get hostages out & aid in, with a pause in fighting to allow work towards a long-term sustainable ceasefire."

Egypt condemned the “targeting of defenseless civilians", calling it part of “a systematic policy aimed at widening the scope of death and destruction in the Gaza Strip to make it uninhabitable".

Jordan accused Israel of “ongoing war crimes", Saudi Arabia condemned “the continued massacres", and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed, “to hold these barbarians and murderers accountable".

Qatar condemned a “dangerous violation of international law" and voiced “concern that the bombing will complicate ongoing mediation efforts" towards a truce.

Around one million people have fled the Israeli offensive in Rafah since early May, the UNRWA reported on Tuesday. Many Palestinians, however, complained they are vulnerable to Israeli attacks wherever they go and have been moving up and down the Gaza Strip for the past few months.

The UNRWA said the flight from Rafah “happened with nowhere safe to go and amidst bombardments, lack of food and water, piles of waste and unsuitable living conditions."