Marvel reimagines Israeli superhero Sabra as U.S. official after backlash

Marvel Studios has announced a significant change to the backstory of Sabra, the Israeli superhero character set to appear in the upcoming "Captain America: Brave New World." Initially introduced as a Mossad agent in the comic books, Sabra will now be portrayed as “a high-ranking U.S. government official” in the film. This adjustment follows the casting of Israeli actress Shira Haas for the role two years ago, which drew mixed reactions.

The change was highlighted in a new trailer released on Friday, where Marvel provided more details about the reimagined character. The announcement omitted any reference to Sabra's previous role as a Mossad agent, a decision that has sparked controversy. Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, headlined, “‘Sabra’ Superhero in Marvel’s ‘Captain America’ Stripped of Israeliness Amid pro-Palestinian Backlash,” while The Jerusalem Post stated, “Marvel removes Jewish superhero Sabra’s Israeli identity for new Captain America movie.”

The American Jewish Committee voiced its disapproval on social media, stating, “Marvel’s decision to strip the Israeli identity of Sabra is a betrayal of the character’s creators and fans and a capitulation to intimidation. Sabra is a proud Israeli hero, and should be portrayed as such. Taking away such a central part of her identity would be like making Captain America Canadian.”

It remains unclear whether Sabra, whose alter ego is Ruth Bat-Seraph, retains any Israeli origins in the film. The term "Sabra" is a Hebrew word for a native Israeli and also refers to a local cactus bush. Shira Haas appears briefly in the new trailer, and Marvel declined to comment further.

The decision to reframe Sabra's character follows criticism from Palestinians and their supporters, who argued that the original depiction glorified Israel. The hashtag #CaptainApartheid emerged on social media in response.

Following recent conflicts, including Hamas's attack in southern Israel on October 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza, there has been renewed scrutiny over how Marvel, owned by Disney, would handle the character.