“All eyes on Rafah,” says an AI-created image template that I saw on Instagram that has now taken social media by storm. As a helpless inhabitant of Earth who hasn’t been able to do much apart from donating and raising my voice, I shared that on my IG story. Within an hour, I saw the template grow from 7 million shares to 11 million.
I am writing this piece at 11:18 PM on a Tuesday. Why am I writing all this at this hour? Because I can’t sleep. While I am on my comfortable bed in the cool air from my air conditioner, I can’t help but feel guilty. How am I living a normal life when innocent people are being murdered in the most brutal manner ever witnessed in history?
Back to that IG story template, I find it difficult to understand how even the voices of millions of people aren’t being heard. Do we not matter? When the Holocaust happened between 1941-45, we were promised that it wouldn’t be repeated. What we are seeing today is worse than the Holocaust. While it’s unfair to compare two genocides, we must remember that the people of Gaza are being subjected to horrendous crimes. Here is a breakdown of what’s been happening in Rafah recently.
Rafah: Is the ‘Safe Zone’ Really Safe?
Over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are currently seeking shelter in Rafah city, and Israel continues to drop bombs there. This has forced the world population to question if the so-called safe zone is actually safe. Clearly, the answer is NO.
Last Sunday (May 26th), Israel launched a significant attack on Rafah, in response to an earlier barrage of rockets fired by Hamas towards the Tel Aviv area. Most of the rockets were intercepted, but the situation quickly escalated. The Israeli airstrike targeted a tent camp in Rafah that was housing displaced individuals. This tragic event resulted in the deaths of at least 45 people and left 200 others injured. The aftermath of this attack highlights the severe impact on civilians, who are often caught in the middle of these violent confrontations.
The situation in Gaza has become increasingly dire. The UNRWA, in a recent post on X, expressed their inability to maintain communication with their team in Gaza, describing the area as “hell on earth.” Families are frantically seeking refuge, but safety is an elusive concept in the Gaza Strip. This desperate search for safety amidst relentless tension underscores the profound humanitarian crisis facing the people of Gaza. The ongoing violence leaves civilians with nowhere to turn, amplifying their suffering and highlighting the urgent need for a resolution.
600,000 Displaced Children at Risk in Rafah
At least 36,171 Palestinians have been killed and 81,420 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, its Health Ministry says. The situation in Rafah and Gaza as a whole is dire. As we watch from afar, sharing posts and raising our voices, it is imperative that we do not become numb to the suffering. The voices of millions demanding change should not fall on deaf ears. We must continue to advocate for peace and justice, ensuring that the tragedies of the past do not repeat themselves.
By the way, as of Wednesday, May 29th, the “All eyes on Rafah” template I was talking about earlier has crossed 41+ million shares on Instagram, signifying that those 41+ million people and more care!