AI- Generated Image Titled ‘All Eyes On Rafah’ Has Sparked A Social Media Frenzy. The Image, Which Has Garnered Over 44 Million Shares On Instagram And Has Emerged As A Piercing Symbol Amid The Mounting International Condemnation Of Civilian Deaths In Israel’s Offensive Targeting Rafah.
“All Eyes On Rafah”
Why In News
- AI- Generated Image Titled ‘All Eyes On Rafah’ Has Sparked A Social Media Frenzy. The Image, Which Has Garnered Over 44 Million Shares On Instagram And Has Emerged As A Piercing Symbol Amid The Mounting International Condemnation Of Civilian Deaths In Israel’s Offensive Targeting Rafah.
- As the Israel-Hamas war continues to escalate, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) announced that the Jewish nation has established “operational control” over the entire so-called Philadelphi Corridor. The news has become a matter of concern since the corridor runs for 14 km, all along the Gaza-Egypt border.
Social Campaign
- The escalation of Israeli shelling and airstrikes resulting in the tragic loss of multiple lives in the southern Gaza city of Rafah had led to a worldwide campaign condemning the killings. Now, Israel have come up with a counter to that.
- The “All Eyes on Rafah” campaign gained momentum on social media as the war-torn enclave has been suffering from a humanitarian catastrophe for nearly seven months now.
- Israel’s new campaign — “Where were your eyes on October 7th?” — however serves to remind people of the October 7 Hamas-led attacks that killed 1,200 people. Israeli bombardments on Tuesday targeted a cluster of tents in Al-Mawasi, west of Rafah, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 people, as reported by Gaza health authorities. Among the deceased, at least 12 were women, as per medical officials.
- The violence came days after an Israeli attack triggered a blaze in a camp housing displaced Palestinians in a western district of the city, claiming the lives of at least 45 people.
- In response to the brutal attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a ‘tragic mistake’ had been made. The campaign has sparked a widespread outcry against the violence, with people voicing their support against the “inhuman” treatment of the Palestinians, including the use of excessive force by Israel in its ground offensive in Gaza.
- Many critics, including South Africa, have accused Israel of committing “genocide” and have dragged it to the United Nations’ top court in January over the war.
ICJ Rules Against Israel
- In A May 24 Ruling, The International Court Of Justice (ICJ) At The Hague, Netherlands, Ordered Israel To Immediately Halt Its Offensive. The ICJ Ruled That Israel Must “Immediately Halt Its Military Offensive” And Any Other Action In Rafah. However, Israel Is Unlikely To Comply.
‘The Oxygen Of Hamas’ – Story Of Philadelphi Corridor
- Philadelphi Corridor also known as the Philadelphi Corridor is the Israeli code name to describe the narrow strip of land situated along the entirety of the border between Gaza Strip and Egypt. The corridor stretches approximately 14 km along the entirety of the border region.
- In 2004, the Knesset passed a resolution to unilaterally withdraw all Israeli citizens and forces from the Gaza Strip. It eventually came into force in August 2005.
- To enable the evacuation of Israeli forces from the Strap and prevent the smuggling of weapons from Egypt, the Jewish nations signed an accord with Egypt titled, “Agreed Arrangements Regarding the Deployment of a Designated Force of Border Guards Along the Border in the Rafah Area”.
- The agreement, also known as the Philadelphi Accord, authorised Egypt to deploy border guards along the Philadelphi route to patrol the Egyptian side of the border. The joint authority for the Rafah Border Crossing was transferred to the Palestinian Authority and Egypt for restricted passage by Palestinian ID card holders, and by others by exception.
- Part of the agreement was to continue the coordination between the Israeli and Egyptian forces operations and intelligence. However, the accord has garnered severe criticism in the past due to reports about the illegal transfer of weapons to Palestinian extremist groups through the corridor.
- “The Philadelphi Corridor served as the oxygen line of Hamas through which Hamas carried out weapons smuggling into Gaza on a regular basis,” said Israel’s military chief spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.
- Meanwhile, Egypt has repeatedly expressed concerns that the Israeli offensive could push Palestinians across the border which will be unacceptable to the African nation. It is pertinent to note that Hamas has had free rein on the border since its 2007 takeover of Gaza.
