In a first, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting its first Israeli superhero, with Shira Haas set to star as Ruth Bat-Seraph aka “Sabra” in the next Captain America movie. The recent move has caused an uproar on social media and rightly so.
Haas won worldwide fame with her role in the internationally acclaimed Netflix series Shtisel. For Marvel, she will play a former Mossad spy whose special powers include super strength, speed and the ability to fly at great velocity. Fans were quick to note the controversial nature of the character's inclusion, with the move seeming to show Marvel taking a step into the touchy arena of the Israel/Palestine conflict.
A user shed light on the character's disturbing history in the comics, pointing out specific troubling incidents in the way she and others were written in the past. "This is how Arabs are presented in Sabra’s first appearance in Marvel comics. The word Palestinian is never used. An Arab child in the comic who is an illiterate liar and thief is killed by black veiled bombers so Sabra can cry over them. Literally shoot and cry propaganda," the tweep penned.
This is how Arabs are presented in Sabra’s first appearance in Marvel comics. The word Palestinian is never used. An Arab child in the comic who is an illiterate liar and thief is killed by black veiled bombers so Sabra can cry over them. Literally shoot and cry propaganda. pic.twitter.com/qh10S9VzsF
— Khaldoun Khelil 🥇Ennie 🇵🇸🇩🇿 #freePalestine (@kkhelil) September 11, 2022
One user discussed the origin of the Sabra name, including its ties to a specific historical incident. "Apparently ‘Sabra’ is a term used to refer to Jews born in historic Palestine (correct me if I’m wrong). It is also the name of the neighborhood in Beirut where Israeli forces oversaw the massacre of thousands of Palestinian refugees in the Sabra and Shatila Massacre in 1982," the tweet read.
Apparently ‘Sabra’ is a term used to refer to Jews born in historic Palestine (correct me if I’m wrong). It is also the name of the neighborhood in Beirut where Israeli forces oversaw the massacre of thousands of Palestinian refugees in the Sabra & Shatila Massacre in 1982. https://t.co/PevrnulixH
— Yumna (@yumna_patel) September 11, 2022
One tweep, while taking a jibe, linked the heroine's potential actions to those of the Israeli government she is, at the very least, written to be a part of. "The villain is a six-year-old Palestinian child," he said.
The villain is a six year old Palestinian child https://t.co/iGxpIMQyXG
— Liam (@Hezbolsonaro) September 10, 2022
One more user made a similar comment, imagining the ways a character like this would act in the service of a very specific political agenda. "Israel’s Marvel superhero Sabra has many powers, including demolishing Palestinian homes with her mind and assassinating Palestinian children with her laser beam eyes," shared the user.
Israel’s Marvel superhero Sabra has many powers, including demolishing Palestinian homes with her mind and assassinating Palestinian children with her laser beam eyes pic.twitter.com/5mye32ZH7f
— Matthew (@MatthewJohn666) September 10, 2022
Other users shared:
a what in a movie called WHAT https://t.co/Ak5JHFQOw9
— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) September 11, 2022
Naming your Israeli superhero after a massacre of 3000 Palestinian and Lebanese citizens is a little on the nose, isn't it? https://t.co/74LajaW7dK
— Olivia Hill (@machineiv) September 11, 2022
Same vibes https://t.co/1oBpOOXr1e pic.twitter.com/OyzoTNO9dw
— AVERAGE EDU ENTHUSIAST (@AFCiqubal) September 11, 2022
throw that whole movie away i'm so serious, there's no way they made that happen, also announcing it in the month of the 40th anniversary of the sabra and shatila massacre? big fck you marvel https://t.co/FbbcrT87jM
— ًً (@djarinculture) September 11, 2022
Her superpower is immunity to international law. https://t.co/nuSkMh7PaT
— Nora Zeid (@itsnorazeid) September 11, 2022
I hope they include this passage from the comics :) https://t.co/aZy9HX6465 pic.twitter.com/8l9o9k7nu2
— Xavier's Online (Hustler Arc) 💣📬 (@xaviersonline) September 11, 2022
> “New World Order” as the film title
— 🇺🇸Droller REDACTED Arc (@TheMoosterChief) September 11, 2022
> Jewish superhero
What did Marvel mean by this? https://t.co/6vLtpiBZrh pic.twitter.com/WjcSIIlUPz
They went ahead and named the Israeli superhero after one of the biggest massacres of Palestinians.
— Red on Red (@RavensLaire) September 11, 2022
This superheroine can now only justify her role by going against 6-8 year Palestinian kids with her superpower being shooting out barb wires for facilitating apartheid https://t.co/h7fNAHymZT
In the comics, Sabra grew up on a government-run kibbutz where she was placed after she began to show her powers and later became Mossad's first superhero agent. She is also portrayed as losing a son to an attack and breaking ranks to bring his killers to justice.
Sabra is the colloquial term for Israeli-born Jews, which draws from the name for a spiky desert cactus that is prickly on the outside but soft on the inside.
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COMMENTS (15)
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1734587529-0/Express-Tribune-(1)1734587529-0-270x192.webp "pakistan to host another icc event")
1734606611-0/Express-Tribune-(8)1734606611-0-270x192.webp "sindh govt announces public holiday")
When you are hated and despised on such a large scale only tiny enterprises on the fringe of society can dare to use financial muscle of banks to shove such a ridiculously stupid thing Israeli superhero down the throats of new generation i.e kids.
Isreal is not a legitimate state it is a terrorist occupation of Palestinian land.
Absolutely right
Sounds like a great super hero Can t wait to see the movie.
That comment just showed a lot about you and how you think.