The Hadid Sisters’ Influence in Reshaping Perspectives on the Israeli Occupation
Watan-The Hebrew website “pplus.ynet” sheds light on the impact of American fashion models and sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid, affirming that they have succeeded in gaining public opinion compared to some prominent Hollywood stars who failed to divert attention and opinions in favor of the occupation.
The site acknowledges that the sisters publish posts exposing Zionist propaganda, and initially, the Israeli occupation did not pay much attention to their solidarity. However, the recent war on Gaza following the Al-Aqsa Storm operation revealed Israel’s keen interest in mobilizing public opinion supporters.
It appears that Bella and Gigi Hadid have had a significant impact on foreign public opinion. Gigi Hadid, with over 79 million followers on her Instagram account, and her sister Bella, with more than 61 million followers on the same platform, have a considerable influence.
A Massive Fan Base for the Hadid Sisters
Despite their follower count not being considered large compared to American artist Selena Gomez, who also hinted at her solidarity with Palestine, the impact of Bella and Gigi Hadid was greater, revealing a massive fan base capable of shaping public opinion.
The Hebrew report criticized the sisters, noting that Bella and Gigi Hadid have taken on roles larger than just fashion models. They have become spokespersons for the Palestinian people, investing their nights and days in sharing photos, videos, and posts expressing anti-Israeli occupation sentiments.
Gigi and her sister Bella are no longer just fashion models and advertising figures but also voices speaking out on political issues. The Hebrew website states that the sisters have strong family ties to the issue. Although born in Los Angeles, their father, Mohamed Hadid, was born in Nazareth in 1948. Shortly after his birth, their family fled to Lebanon and then to Syria during the Palestinian Nakba.
Pplus.ynet emphasizes that Bella and Gigi Hadid’s support for the Palestinians is rooted in their Palestinian heritage.
Posts by Bella and Gigi Hadid about Palestine
A few days after the Al-Aqsa Storm operation, Gigi Hadid wrote, “My heart breaks for the Palestinian suffering and the horror of life under occupation. But I also feel a responsibility towards my Jewish peers. I have dreams and hopes for the Palestinians, but none of them involve harming Jews.”
Bella Hadid shared on her Instagram account three weeks after the start of the war on Gaza, “I am saddened by the trials and pains that families have endured on October 7th. I condemn attacks on civilians everywhere.”
Bella continued, “My heart is cracking with the pain of the horror I see and the tragedy extending in the blood of Palestinian victims, every time I witness the consequences of the air strikes on Gaza.”
What greatly disturbed the occupation was what Gigi later wrote about Israel being the only entity that holds children as war prisoners, accompanying her post with an image of 12-year-old Ahmed Manasra.
Hadid described the conditions the child is living in after being abducted by the Israeli occupation, pointing out his health problems and the situations of hundreds of Palestinian children in the prisons of the occupation.
The sisters have often compared the Israeli occupation and its army to the Nazis, sharing stories about Jews who support Palestinians. They accuse the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being responsible for the actions of the attack that the occupation faced on October 7th.
