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A new hit song by Israeli rappers Ness and Stilla has shot to the top of the charts in Israel, becoming an unofficial anthem of the Israeli occupation forces’ war on Palestinians in Gaza.
However, the drill rap song’s violent lyrics have also stirred intense controversy both domestically and internationally.
Titled “Harbu Darbu,” the Hebrew song includes calls for violence against public figures who have expressed pro-Palestinian views, most notably models Bella Hadid and Dua Lipa. The lyrics also name leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, stating: “Every dog will get what’s coming to them.”
The track has racked up over 18 million views on YouTube since its November release, reflecting its popularity among young Israelis. However, it has also faced backlash from some of those named in the lyrics as well as critics within Israel.
The rappers have defended the song as boosting troop morale and representing their right to criticize those they view as disseminating “fake news” against Israel. But others argue it crosses a red line by targeting specific individuals with threats.
The divisive hit has highlighted generational divides within Israel on issues ranging from mandatory military service to acceptable forms of wartime dissent. While music celebrating the Israeli military has a long tradition, “Harbu Darbu” has set off a fierce debate on what constitutes responsible creative expression.
Militaristic Lyrics Celebrate Israeli Defense Forces
The bulk of the song’s lyrics center around celebrating units of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and calling for military action against Hamas and other enemies of the Jewish state.
The chorus of “Harbu Darbu,” which roughly translates to “fire and brimstone” in Arabic, includes the chant “one, two, shoot” as the artists name brigades like Givati, Golani, and Kfir. Other verses issue an aggressive call to arms from northern to southern Israel while vowing vengeance for Hamas’s surprise October 7 attacks that prompted Israel’s ongoing, brutal military campaign in Gaza.
The controversial song features Singer Ness applauding the Israeli air force’s airstrikes on Gaza, singing: “You can feel the tremors all the way to Tel Aviv.” The bombastic lyrics and drill-style beat have made the song a hit with many IDF troops.
Videos have circulated online of soldiers dancing and singing along with “Harbu Darbu” as it blares from tanks and armored vehicles. The artists even dedicated the song to the IDF when performing it live.
A Lightning Rod for Controversy
However, the most controversial lyrics come at the end when Ness and Stilla name celebrities they deem anti-Israel.
“Every dog will get what’s coming to them,” they chant before listing supermodel Bella Hadid, singer Dua Lipa, and former adult film star Mia Khalifa.
The three women have used their platforms to call for peace and a Palestinian state, which the artists see as disseminating dangerous lies.
Critics, in turn, have denounced what they describe as an unimaginably dangerous and unhinged song. In particular, they have taken issue with the song’s gratuitous treatment of critics of Israel, especially its violent lyrics’ apparent call for the murder of Hadid, Lipa, and Khalifa.
Khalifa mocked the song on Twitter, while Lipa condemned “misrepresentations” of her views.
The violent lyrics have drawn worldwide condemnation, even though the song’s defenders argue that Ness and Stilla are not promoting actual violence.
Almost immediately upon release, “Harbu Darbu” became both wildly popular and steeped in controversy. Its unchecked aggression and targeting of specific women touched nerves on multiple issues of nationalism, youth culture, free speech and gender dynamics.
Israel has a long history of popular songs supporting the military. But few have sparked such a divisive response as this chart-topping hit. “Harbu Darbu” looks likely to remain a lightning rod within Israel’s culture wars, even as its popularity eventually fades.
