Israeli pop star Ofra Haza, famous for her haunting voice and blending of Middle Eastern and western music styles, has died aged 42.

The singer died from massive organ failure after being in intensive care in Tel Aviv's Tel Hashomer hospital for 13 days.

Born in south Tel Aviv as the youngest of nine children, Haza rose from poverty to carve out a musical career that won her accolades worldwide, including a Grammy nomination.

Inspired by traditional Jewish-Yemeni culture, Hazar's first international release, Yemenite Songs, was a huge hit when released in 1985.

Her dance single Im Nin Alu, based on a devotional poem by a 17th century rabbi, then topped the charts across Europe.

She went on to work with performers such as Paula Abdul and in 1998 she recorded the title track to Steven Spielberg's movie The Prince of Egypt.

Haza was a national hero in Israel and performed in Oslo when Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.

After her death, Prime Minister Ehud Barak told reporters: "Ofra emerged from the Hatikvah slums to reach the peak of Israeli culture. She has left a mark on us all."

She was married to businessman Doron Ashkenazi and had no children.