Web Desk
On May 28, a wave of support for Rafah swept across Instagram as numerous Indian celebrities shared a powerful AI-generated image with the caption “All Eyes On Rafah.” This image alone was shared over 33 million times, showcasing the immense reach of these influential figures. Among those who joined the movement were actors and actresses such as Malaika Arora Khan, Zareen Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Kriti Kharbanda, Nora Fatehi, DQ Salmaan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Tripti Dimri, Rakul Preet, Rahul Dua, Varun Dhawan, Nitanshi Goel, Urfi Javed, Swara Bhaskar, and Aahsaas Channa. Each of them used their platform to draw attention to the cause.
In contrast, Huma Qureshi and Kareena Kapoor took a different approach by sharing a post published by UNICEF, which called for a ceasefire in the region. Their support for peace and stability in the area was evident through their actions.
However, not all celebrities were able to maintain their stance. Rohit Sharma’s wife Ritika Sajdeh, veteran actress Madhuri Dixit, and others faced immense pressure from the public and ultimately decided to delete their stories.
In response to the growing support for Rafah, pro-Israel accounts have started sharing social media posts, urging those with “eyes on Rafah” to help find the hostages that Hamas has not released since October 7, 2023.
Make yourselves useful. pic.twitter.com/JyTfrCbHNG
— The Mossad: Satirical, Yet Awesome (@TheMossadIL) May 28, 2024
Rafah, located in the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip, shares a border with Egypt, and the Rafah crossing is the only way for Gaza residents to leave the area. However, Egypt only allows humanitarian aid inside, refusing all requests for evacuation and denying Palestinians the opportunity to enter their nation.
Despite these restrictions, recent military operations in Rafah by Israel have exposed several tunnels extending from Rafah to Egypt. These tunnels allegedly allowed Hamas terrorists to enter Egyptian territory undetected. Israel has claimed at the ICJ hearing that the Egyptian government was aware of these tunnels, further complicating the situation in the region.
On May 26 (local time), the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas launched a rocket attack on the Tel Aviv area in Israel. The incident triggered sirens across the region, urging residents to seek shelter immediately. In response, Israeli forces conducted an airstrike on Rafah, the southernmost part of the Gaza strip, where many Palestinians have sought refuge.
Notably, Rafah shares a border with Egypt. During the airstrike, Israel accidentally struck a tent camp where displaced Palestinians were reportedly living. Media reports have claimed that around 45 people, including children and the elderly, lost their lives, while 200 were injured. However, Israel has denied these claims, stating that they targeted a terrorist shelter away from civilian areas.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have clarified that they executed a precision strike with a limited amount of explosives at an area 1.7 km away from the civilian zone. They explained that secondary explosions might have occurred because Hamas has a history of storing explosives and munitions in civilian areas, often using civilian compounds as cover.
Hamas has also been actively involved in a misinformation campaign, amplifying victimhood and using Palestinian civilians as human shields throughout the conflict. One such example was their desperate attempts to claim that “hundreds of civilians were killed in Shifa hospital.” However, images and videos soon exposed their lies. The organixation even tried to portray a fire incident in a parking lot as mass destruction, with international media lending a hand.
The Israeli forces’ attack aimed to eliminate Hamas operatives hiding in the area, and they successfully neutralised two of them. The United Nations and the World Health Organisation condemned the airstrike on Rafah. Israel has expressed regret over the 45 deaths caused by the fire and explosions and has launched an investigation into the matter.
The recent influx of posts by various Indian celebrities has shed light on a concerning trend of selective outrage. A specific image, shared over 33 million times worldwide on Instagram, seems to be an attempt to create a negative narrative against Israel.
According to a post on X, celebrities are offered different price slabs for posting certain content on social media platforms. Those with one to 100 thousand followers receive USD10, while the amount can reach USD 20,000 for accounts with over 50 million followers.
This is the price list for posts regarding #AlleEyesOnRafah
You can count, on how much price your favorite celebrity sold out!
And you will find videos on YouTube on this project in the next couple of days, check the price list for YouTube videos. pic.twitter.com/Oi8kMN99RX
— Vijay Patel🇮🇳 (@vijaygajera) May 29, 2024
In addition to the financial aspect, these celebrities have a history of selective outrage, such as the “I am ashamed” placard during the Kathua case. This selective outrage only seems to manifest when the alleged victims are Muslim, never when the other side is Hindu.
The social media campaign surrounding “All Eyes on Rafah” has once again revealed how disconnected celebrities are from the ground realities and the bigger picture. Dozens of hostages taken by Hamas after the October 7 massacre have yet to return home. Recently released videos show the brutal rape and torture of young girls by Hamas terrorists, but none of this has sparked concern among these celebrities with millions of followers.
Their hypocrisy extends beyond international issues. They consistently fail to speak out for victims in India be it any love jihad victim or the others. The brutal killings of Hindus during riots and other severe injustices are conveniently ignored by these influential figures. These celebrities, who were outspoken during the Rafah campaign, have neglected to address these critical issues, thereby revealing their selective moral compass.
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