LONDON: An Israeli rap song calling for the killing of singer Dua Lipa and model Bella Hadid has become a chart-topping and unofficial anthem of Israel’s brutal war in Gaza, The Times reported on Thursday.
The track “Harbu Darbu” has had more than 18 million views on YouTube since its November release.
“Every dog will get what’s coming to them,” rappers Ness and Stilla say in reference to Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah; Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’ Al-Qassam brigades; and Ismail Haniyeh, the chairman of Hamas’ political wing.
The rappers, who are seen making defiant gestures while bouncing up and down in the music video, name Lipa and Hadid due to their pro-Palestine and anti-war stance.
Israel’s bombardment and incursion into Gaza has killed over 28,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children. Meanwhile, 80 percent of the population have been forcibly displaced from their homes, while a quarter of the people are starving amid a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
The chorus of “Harbu Darbu” praises some of the brigades of the Israel Defense Forces and encourages soldiers to collect notches on their guns.
It also says that each bomb dropped on Gaza will be inscribed with someone’s name.
Ness praises the Israeli air force for its airstrikes on Gaza. “You can feel the tremors all the way to Tel Aviv,” she says. “All the girls are checking out the soldiers.”
The song has been embraced by Israeli soldiers, with videos circulating on YouTube and TikTok featuring the music set to footage of troops meeting Herzi Halevi, the head of the IDF, and images of soldiers driving armored vehicles.
However, it has also received a backlash both locally and globally.
“I absolutely hate that song,” Liam Yossef, a vinyl collector in Tel Aviv, told The Times.
“I was hoping it would fall flat. But I kind of knew it would be a hit. It’s embarrassing. I lost friends on Oct. 7 but it’s still an awful song.”
The 22-year old, who went through a long process of registering as a conscientious objector when he was called up for conscription at 18, added: “I hate this stuff but it’s embedded in your psyche.”
The song comes amid ongoing debates about the role of Israeli youth in military operations. Tal Mitnick, 18, was jailed for refusing to serve, while a letter has been signed by 300 teenagers challenging the draft.
