All Eyes on Rafah - What Does This Mean?
The Israel military carried out airstrikes in the “safe zone” of Tel Sultan in Rafah, Gaza killing and injuring dozens of Palestinian refugees, mostly women and children on 26th May 2024.
On May 26, 2024, the conflict between Israel and Palestine intensified as Hamas launched a "large rocket barrage" at Tel Aviv, marking the first attack on Israel's commercial hub in months. The rockets were reportedly fired from near two mosques in Rafah, Gaza, where Hamas is also believed to be holding hostages.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the offensive. Later that day, the Israeli military carried out airstrikes on a refugee camp in the Tel Sultan area of western Rafah, Gaza. Tel Sultan is a UN-run safe zone and had become a temporary shelter for refugees who fled eastern Rafah due to an ongoing ground offensive by Israeli forces.
The airstrikes led to a tragic loss of life. According to reports, eight missiles were fired, and their impact caused a fire that engulfed the makeshift shelters, resulting in the death of at least 50 refugees, mostly women and children. Dozens more were injured, and rescue operations are still underway to recover victims trapped under the rubble.
One survivor recounted the horror, saying, "I was walking and looking at my phone when the area was struck. I did not realize what had happened. I had no idea what had become of my family. My mother was with me, and my brother was injured at the camp. I fell to the ground and saw that my leg had been split open."
The incident has drawn international condemnation. The European Union, the United Nations, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and France have all called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The Palestinian West Bank presidency has labeled the airstrikes a "heinous massacre," accusing Israeli forces of deliberately targeting refugee shelters.
In the United States, officials described the airstrikes as "devastating" and "heartbreaking," while stating they are awaiting the results of an investigation to validate Israel's version of events. The US also urged Israel to avoid civilian casualties.
The Israeli military claimed that the airstrikes were based on "precise intelligence" and targeted "legitimate" locations, killing two senior Hamas officials, Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar. The military also suggested that ammunition stored near the strike zone might have contributed to the large fire, as the munitions used were deemed too small to cause such extensive damage on their own.
The attack on Rafah has sparked outrage on social media, with graphic images and videos of the aftermath circulating widely. Additionally, an AI-generated image calling for global attention to the airstrike went viral on Instagram, garnering over 29 million shares in less than 24 hours. The image, showing tents arranged to spell "All Eyes on Rafah," was shared by numerous international and Indian celebrities and influencers.
An independent military body is currently investigating the airstrike. Meanwhile, the situation remains dire, with more than 100,000 Palestinian refugees displaced once again.
As the world watches, the urgent need for a resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict becomes ever more apparent.
