Marvel scraps Israeli identity, Mossad links from superhero amid Gaza war criticism

Marvel Studios have seemingly removed the Israeli identity of one of their characters, female 'superhero' Sabra, for the franchise’s upcoming film Captain America: Brave New World, slated for a February 2025 release.

In the trailer for the forthcoming film, the character, played by Israeli actress Shira Haas, is seemingly reimagined as a high-ranking US government official and a former Russian spy, Black Widow.

Haas’ character is also an ally to Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, the newly-elected US President who seeks to make Captain America an official military position.

The character will also be given a new name, Ruth Bat-Seraph, rather than Sabra - which was usually used in the comic series.

Notably missing from the upcoming film’ trailer is Sabra’s blue and white outfit - the colours of the Israeli flag -  as well as the emblazoned Star of David.

Sabra has been usually portrayed as an Israeli Mossad agent and first appeared in the Incredible Hulk comics in 1980.

The character's storylines in the comic have drawn criticism for their negative portrayal of Palestinian and Arab characters, who were often stereotyped as violent and misogynistic. 

In the comics, Sabra was raised on an "Israeli-government" run kibbutz to "nurture" her abilities, and uses mutant powers to aid the state. She describes herself in cartoons as the "superheroine of the state of Israel".

Marvel's inclusion of the Mossad-linked character drew backlash in 2022 amid Israel’s decades-long occupation and violence in the Palestinian territories.

Currently, Israel is carrying out a brutal military offensive in the Gaza Strip that has led to accusations of war crimes and genocide.

Palestinian groups urged for the character to be axed from the film, after the cast was revealed at Disney’s D23 Expo in September 2022. Many activists dubbed the character 'Captain Apartheid'.

Pro-Palestinian activists also condemned the move as the character has a name reminiscent of the Sabra and Shatila massacre. Between 1,300 and 3,500 Palestinians and Lebanese were killed in the refugee camps in Beirut in September 1982, following Israel's invasion of the country. The killings were facilitated by the Israeli army and carried out by Israel-allied right-wing Lebanese Christian militiamen.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel slammed the "ugly racism" and "valorisation of Mossad" in the original comic as "sickening".

Following the controversy surrounding the character, Marvel released a statement via Variety which read: "While our characters and stories are inspired by the comics, they are always freshly imagined for the screen and today's audience, and the filmmakers are taking a new approach with the character Sabra who was first introduced in the comics over 40 years ago."

Condemnation of Israel has increased dramatically in recent months due to the indiscriminate war on Gaza, which has killed at least 38,713 Palestinians since October 7.

Israel’s offensive and siege of the enclave has plunged Gaza into a dire humanitarian situation. The UN has issued multiple warnings that a famine is looming in parts of the enclave and on Monday, UN chief Antonio Gutteres called the entire enclave a "killing zone" following several Israeli massacres in the territory.