Supermodel sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid paid tribute to their father, Mohamed Hadid, on Father's Day, sharing family photographs and heartfelt messages celebrating the Palestinian-American businessman and former Olympian.
Bella Hadid's Tribute
Bella, 29, posted a series of images on Instagram highlighting some of her father's favorite hobbies and interests, including painting, cooking and collecting watches. Alongside the photographs, she wrote: “Few of baba’s favorite things: his kids, painting, cooking and watches … Happy Father’s Day baba. I love you.”
Gigi Hadid's Message
Gigi, 31, also marked the occasion with a brief but affectionate message, posting: “Happy Baba’s Day.”
Mohamed Hadid's Olympic Past
Among the images Bella shared was a throwback photograph of Mohamed competing at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. Born in Nazareth to a Palestinian family, he represented Jordan in the Games, becoming one of the few Arab athletes to compete in alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics. He took part in the speed skiing event, helping to raise the profile of winter sports in the region.
Family Background
Today, Mohamed is best known as a luxury real estate developer in the US and as the father of a clutch of high-profile public figures, including Gigi, Bella and their younger brother Anwar Hadid, as well as Alana and Marielle Hadid and Aydan Nix. Over the years, he has frequently spoken about his Palestinian heritage, a connection that has also been embraced by his daughters.
Political Statement
In addition to her Father's Day tribute, Bella reshared a post from the Institute for Middle East Understanding drawing attention to Palestinian fathers affected by the war in Gaza. The post honored fathers who have been killed, detained or separated from their families by Israel, and called for Palestinians to be able to “live, to thrive, and to raise children in freedom and safety.”
“This Father’s Day, we’re thinking of the Palestinian fathers doing everything they can to protect their children from Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. The fathers in Israeli torture camps and inhumane ICE facilities, separated from their loved ones. The Palestinian fathers Israel has killed, orphaning their children,” the post read.
The sisters have been among the most prominent international voices speaking publicly about Palestinian issues in recent years, often using their social media platforms to highlight the war in Gaza and Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.
