All eyes on Rafah: Mahira, Fatima among others highlight Gazans' plight amid latest Israel attacks
In a display of solidarity - and amidst the Blockout 2024 - Pakistani celebrities Mahira Khan, Armeena Khan, Anoushey Ashraf, Hania Ahmed and Fatima Bhutto have taken to their Instagram accounts to raise awareness about the dire situation in Rafah. Their poignant, yet necessary posts shed light on the ongoing humanitarian crisis, urging their followers to support the victims and take action.
Mahira Khan, known for her influential voice both on and off-screen, shared poignant images and videos highlighting the atrocities faced by the people of Rafah. She reposted a heartbreaking video by Palestinian journalist, Motaz Azaiza which showed the corpses of children, with the caption, “However can this be the world we live in?” No doubt her millions of followers share the same sentiments regarding the acts of horror we’re witnessing from behind screens.
Similarly, actor Armeena Khan, a vocal advocate for social causes, utilised her platform to draw attention to the plight of Rafah's residents. Through her stories she revealed that she will never stop spreading awareness about Palestine since she has the privilege of living in a country where she can go to bed without thinking each night is her last.
Emphasising the importance of collective action, she shared a series of images, videos and tweets showcasing the horrors in Rafah. One of the stories read, “Motaz’s stories destroyed my soul tonight. They look like snapshots from hell. Watch but be mindful it's the sort of a thing that scars you for life.”
Joining the chorus were also actor Hania Ahmed, RJ Anoushey Ashraf and writer Fatima Bhutto who used their platforms to provide valuable insights about the humanitarian situation in Rafah. Hania and Anoushey both shared a post that highlighted the disheartening reality of the situation. The post read, “Isreal is burning people alive in Rafah right now. They’re counting on Americans to be too busy during this holiday weekend to pay attention to their latest massacre.”
Fatima, shared statistics regarding the most recent attack in Rafah, which revealed, “Israel bombed Rafah over 60 times in 48 hours after International Court of Justice orders.” She captioned the post, “We should not rest till this is stopped. My heart aches.” Fatima has shared several other posts with pertinent information regarding the ongoing genocide.
The collective efforts of these Pakistani celebrities on social media serve as a powerful reminder that behind our screens lie the harsh realities of many others. The most impactful way we can help those suffering is by raising awareness. Israeli air strikes killed at least 35 Palestinians on Sunday and wounded dozens in an area in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah designated for the displaced, Palestinian health and civil emergency service officials said.
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