Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma’s wife Ritika Sajdeh was among those who shared the “All Eyes On Rafah” image in her Instagram Stories. The social media campaign, calling for attention to what’s happening in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, gained momentum after Israeli strikes on Sunday night killed 45 Palestinians at a camp.  

While Ms Sajdeh deleted the post within hours, several users accused her of being “selective” in speaking against oppression and atrocities. 

People have dropped comments on Ms Sajdeh’s birthday post for Rohit Sharma. The India opener turned 37 on April 30.

A person wrote, “Kyun madam? Palestinians se itni humdardi kyu (Why such sympathy with Palestinians, Madam?).”

“As a Rohit Sharma fan … I’m ashamed of you,” said another user.

However, there were a handful of people who lauded Ms Sajdeh for supporting Palestine.

“My respect for Hitman and you after the story,” read a comment.

A user said, “Thank you for supporting Palestine.”

“Respect for Rohit Sharma and his wife” was the sentiment online. 

What Is “All Eyes On Rafah” campaign

Celebs, human rights groups and common men and women have been sharing the “All Eyes On Rafah” image on their social media platforms to raise awareness about the ongoing Israeli onslaught in Gaza. On Monday, after the latest Israeli strikes killed 45 Palestinians at a tent camp, Bollywood celebs, including some A-listers, shared what’s become a global image now.

Among those who extended solidarity with the people of Palestine were Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Triptii Dimri, Samantha Prabhu, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Swara Bhasker, and Dia Mirza, among others.

Among international figures, Australian cricketer Travis Head, British singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, model Bella Hadid and actresses Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Susan Sarandon also drew attention to Rafah, where roughly 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge after fleeing Israeli bombings from other parts of Gaza.

Jerusalem:

The Israeli army said the Kerem Shalom crossing, which has been key to Gaza aid operations, was again targeted on Wednesday by rocket fire that “lightly injured” one soldier.

“Eight launches were identified crossing from the area of Rafah into the area of Kerem Shalom”, a military statement read, adding that “as a result of the launches, an IDF (army) soldier was lightly injured.”

The Israeli army said that it reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing on Wednesday morning.

It was closed for three days following a Hamas rocket attack on Sunday that killed four soldiers. Another rocket launch had targeted the crossing Monday.

“Trucks from Egypt carrying humanitarian aid, including food, water, shelter equipment, medicine and medical equipment donated by the international community are already arriving at the crossing,” the army said Wednesday in a joint statement with COGAT, the defence ministry body that oversees Palestinian civil affairs.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said the crossing remained closed.

Overnight Monday-Tuesday, Israeli troops seized control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt after launching an incursion into the eastern sector of the city.

UNRWA spokeswoman Juliette Touma said the Rafah crossing is crucial for UNRWA, the main aid agency operating in Gaza.

“We normally get fuel through Rafah,” not Kerem Shalom, Touma said.

Without fuel entering Gaza through Rafah, trucks cannot pick up aid from Kerem Shalom, she added.

“There’s not been humanitarian supplies for the past three days. We have started rationing fuel,” she said, adding that the territory needed 300,000 litres (79,250 gallons) of fuel a day for humanitarian purposes.

Israel’s staunchest ally the United States too called for the reopening of both crossings.

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