Marvel Reinvents Israeli Hero Sabra as U.S. Official Following Backlash as Hashtag #CaptainApartheid Surged Across Social Media Platforms

To avoid backlash from audiences often exposed to anti-Israel narratives, Marvel Studios has revised the backstory of Israeli superhero Sabra for the upcoming film "Captain America: Brave New World." 

Amid mounting criticism from Palestinians and their allies, who argued that the initial depiction of Sabra's character unduly celebrated Israeli perspectives. 

The hashtag #CaptainApartheid has surged across social media platforms, fueling calls for a reassessment of the portrayal. 

In the comic books, Sabra was originally introduced as a Mossad agent, but in the film, she will now be depicted as “a high-ranking U.S. government official.” This shift follows the casting of Israeli actress Shira Haas in the role two years ago, a move that garnered mixed reactions. 

The trailer for the new film introduces the character under a new name, Ruth Bat-Seraph, replacing the familiar Sabra from the comics. Sabra’s blue and white costume is absent from the trailer, reflecting the colors of the Israeli flag, and the Star of David emblem. Sabra made her debut in the Incredible Hulk comics in 1980. 

The character's comic book storylines have faced criticism for negatively portraying Palestinian and Arab characters, often depicting them as violent and misogynistic stereotypes. 

In the comics, Sabra was brought up on a kibbutz managed by the Israeli government to hone her skills and employ her mutant powers to assist the state. She identifies herself in the comics as the "superheroine of the state of Israel." 

Marvel's decision to include a character connected to Mossad sparked controversy in 2022, amidst ongoing Israeli occupation and violence in the Palestinian territories. 

After the cast announcement at Disney’s D23 Expo in September 2022, Palestinian groups called to remove the character from the film. Activists quickly labeled the character 'Captain Apartheid,' sparking widespread controversy. 

Following the controversial character reveal, American Muslims for Palestine swiftly initiated a letter campaign targeting Disney and Marvel Studios. They condemned the character as “distasteful,” arguing that it represents “a state recognized by the global human rights community as an apartheid regime, responsible for ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Palestinian people.” 

In response to the backlash, Marvel Studios stated: “Although our characters and stories are based on the comics, they are reimagined for the screen and today’s audience.”