Israeli Heroine Sabra in Captain America: Brave New World Sparks Pro-Palestinian Demonstration

      The fictional setting of Captain America: Brave New World feels uncomfortably close to real life for pro-Palestinian protesters who attended the film's premiere to voice their discontent over the inclusion of an Israeli character named Ruth Bat-Seraph, also known as Sabra, portrayed by Shira Haas.

      In the comics that inspired the film, Sabra is depicted as a mutant Mossad agent with abilities such as superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes, endurance, and stamina. However, in the film, her character is modified: producer Nate Moore mentioned in a recent interview that she is “Israeli, but she’s not Mossad” and that she now serves the U.S. government.

      “What we found intriguing is that many characters in the film are connected to President Thaddeus Ross,” who is played by Harrison Ford, Moore stated in an interview with The National.

      Ruth finds herself at odds with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), the new Captain America.

      “Ruth operates within the government under Ross, which creates a clash between her perspective and Sam's,” Moore explained. “She is a first-generation Israeli working within the U.S. government.”

      Marvel has further clarified through a statement that Sabra, who first appeared in The Incredible Hulk in 1980, has been adapted differently for the film compared to her comic book origins.

      “While our characters and narratives draw inspiration from the comics,” the statement noted, “they are always reimagined for the screen and contemporary audiences, with filmmakers taking a fresh approach to the character of Sabra, who was first introduced over 40 years ago.”

      This distinction, however, did not appease many of the demonstrators who gathered outside the film's Hollywood premiere on Tuesday, waving Palestinian flags and accusing Marvel of promoting the Israeli government.

      They held signs with messages like “Disney Supports Genocide,” “Boycott Captain America,” “Sabra Has Got to Go,” and “Pray 4 Princess Jasmine,” referring to the protagonist of Disney's Aladdin.

      It’s hard to believe anyone would have predicted the inclusion of an Israeli superhero in a Marvel film would lead to protests, but here we are.

      Sabra and Captain America: Brave New World Debut During a Difficult Period in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

      The protests are part of a campaign that started on social media in 2022 once the character's presence in Captain America: Brave New World was first revealed, with pro-Palestinians launching the hashtag “#CaptainApartheid.

      This campaign unfolded prior to the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked a severe escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The attacks resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,139 individuals, primarily Israeli civilians, as reported by the news agency AFP.

      Israel responded with heavy bombardments, and last month, a study led by epidemiologists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimated that as many as 64,300 people may have died due to Israel’s airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza between October 2023 and the end of June 2024, a significant increase from the 37,900 initially stated by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, according to The New York Times.

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      Captain America: Brave New World premieres amid another highly charged moment in the conflict. A ceasefire was reached last month, wherein Hamas agreed to start releasing some of the 251 hostages taken during the October 7 attack in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees. So far, Hamas has released 16 of the 33 individuals set to be freed in this phase, while Israel has released 656 of a promised 2,000 detainees, according to CNN.

      However, Hamas has accused Israel of breaching the agreement and has announced a delay for a hostage release scheduled for this Saturday “until further notice.” In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that if Hamas does not release the hostages by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire will be lifted, and Israeli forces will resume “intense fighting.”

      Additionally, President Trump has hinted at the possibility of annexing Gaza for the United States.

      This situation might make one wish to escape into the fantasy realm of a comic-book film, yet the protests on Tuesday indicate that even that may be out of reach.

      Commenting generally on any parallels between Brave New World and our current reality, Harrison Ford said to AFP on the red carpet Tuesday: “I would not taint any movie with the realities of the world we’re living in right now… I prefer the reality of the Marvel universe to the news of the day.”