Yesterday, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s plane struck the town of Khan Sheikhoun, in Idlib, killing more than 100 people and injuring over 500. The vast majority of those affected by the attack are thought to be children.
The US and the UK condemned the attack, with the latter calling for an immediate investigation as rights groups announced sarin gas was used.
Since the incident the hashtags #Khan_Sheikhoun and #Oh_Arabs_your_silence_is_betrayal have been trending on Twitter in Arabic.
#ياعرب_صمتكم_خيانه
وين وين
الشعب العربي وين
الغضب العربي وين
وييين وييين pic.twitter.com/5nws71rG5R— الفنان)غداتشرق الشمس (@nn0104774) April 5, 2017
Translation: “Where, where… Where are the Arab people … Where’s the Arab anger… Where, where.”
While the image depicts a Syrian man on the right carrying a banner which reads “steadfast”, while the Arab man on the left stands gagged with a sign reading: “Silent”.
Activists on social media shared pictures and videos of the bodies of children who were killed – images too graphic to publish here – as well as those taking their last breath in a scene similar to a complete massacre of humanity.
@oabozayd reported about a protest in a school in Idlib where students held a moment’s silence for those killed in yesterday’s attack. They also showed “their discontent with the position of the international and Arab communities following the massacre of #Khan_Sheikhoun.”
وقفة صامتة احتجاجية لاطفال #سوريا في احدى مدارس #ادلب يعبرون فيها عن سخطهم على موقف المجتمع الدولي و العربي من مجزرة #خان شيخون pic.twitter.com/8sWbDtCsUD
— أسامة أبو زيد Osama Abo Zayd (@oabozayd) April 5, 2017
Drink children drink.. Chemical weapons taste good.. #Syria https://t.co/Us41fqUG6N#ياعرب_صمتكم_خيانة
— طه Taha♡♥ (@Taha_jazzar) April 5, 2017
@anti_coup4444 uploaded an image of Uncle Sam pinching Al-Assad’s ear by way of punishment and telling him: “Hit… Strike… Kill… But do not use chemical weapons again.”
You naughty boy have used chemical weapons against defenceless families again. #Syria https://t.co/RTYlHB2qbf#ياعرب_صمتكم_خيانة
— طه Taha♡♥ (@Taha_jazzar) April 5, 2017
Others highlighted the blame game which is playing out in America while Al-Assad continues his onslaught without consequence.
#Trump blames #Obama#Obama blames #Putin#Assad kills & doesn't care.#Syria https://t.co/gW8g5M3nHa#ياعرب_صمتكم_خيانة
— طه Taha♡♥ (@Taha_jazzar) April 5, 2017
@Smagdab outlined everyone’s disappointment with a short tweet.
shame on you Arabs leaders #ياعرب_صمتكم_خيانه
— ɖɽ ɱɑɠɖɑɓ (@smagdab) April 5, 2017