TEHRAN-Due to public opposition to the Israeli superhero named Sabra (Ruth Bat-Seraph) appearing in "Captain America: Brave New World," Marvel seems to have removed all of the traditional Israeli roots in the character's history from the trailer for the film, which was released on July 12. 

“New to the cast is Shira Haas, who joins as Ruth Bat-Seraph. A former Black Widow, Ruth is now a high-ranking U.S. government official who has the trust of President Ross,” announced Marvel.

Ruth is played by Israeli actress Shira Haas, who was first cast in the role in 2022 and was a former volunteer with the Israeli army’s theater troupe. She has previously appeared in movies including "Asia" and "The Zookeeper's Wife," as well as the Netflix series "Bodies. "

Haas’ accounts show her posing in an Israeli army uniform, seemingly on a film set, and praising Israel’s 2018 Eurovision win, which was a major front in the Zionist regime government’s cultural propaganda war.

Marvel and Mossad, Brothers in arm

The character was the subject of a backlash in 2022 when it was announced that she would feature in "Captain America: Brave New World", the fourth film in the Captain America series. It led to Marvel issuing a statement at the time to say that the character would be reworked.

In an interview with the Tehran Times, Dr. Matthew Alford, a British filmmaker and the author of the book "Reel Power: Hollywood Cinema and American Supremacy," explained that Israeli actors have appeared in comic book films since Gal Gadot, who played Wonder Woman in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," released in 2016. 

“In some ways, this is a welcome diversification of Hollywood talent – but, of course, it’s set against a backdrop of longstanding Islamophobia in the industry. Such stereotypes were brilliantly deconstructed in the life’s work of an American scholar with Lebanese roots, Jack Shaheen, best known for the book "Reel Bad Arabs", which documented over a thousand films going back a hundred years,” he added.

The author pointed out that in 1960, the epic "Exodus" starring Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint established a sympathetic narrative on how Israel was formed. “In recent years, the links between Israel and Hollywood have become easier to see.”

Traditionally, Sabra is a Mossad agent who has served in the Zionist regime army. The character wears a blue-and-white costume featuring a Star of David cape clasp, evoking the Israeli regime flag.

Sabra’s first full-fledged appearance was in Incredible Hulk vol. 1 #256 in a notoriously offensive story called "Power and Peril in the Promised Land". In the story, Arabs are portrayed as terrorist bombers. 

Just like a prickly pear cactus

The name Sabra is a modern Hebrew term for a person born in the occupied territories. Additionally, Rabbi Simcha Weinstein, who is known as the "Comic Book Rabbi", refers to another meaning of this word in his book, "Up, Up and Oy Vey: How Jewish History, Culture and Values Shaped the Comic Book Superhero".

“The word is derived from the Hebrew tzabar, the prickly pear cactus. Rough to the touch, this desert plant has a sweet interior. Israelis may sometimes seem prickly, but this is simply a natural defense mechanism.”

“They are a kind and benevolent people at heart!” Weinstein adds.

Sabra's name is also a reminder of a terrible event that the Zionist media often refuses to mention; Sabra and Shatila massacre. 

Over a period of two days just outside Beirut in September 1982, Israeli-backed Lebanese militiamen slaughtered up to 3,500 Palestinian refugees and Lebanese civilians in what became known as the Sabra and Shatila massacre. Pregnant women were stabbed in the stomach; fetuses were ripped out. Children had their throats cut; young men were lined up and shot in the back.

Israeli regime’s military provided logistical support throughout the butchery, which occurred three months into the apocalyptic Israeli invasion of Lebanon that had been green-lit by the United States.

Captain Apartheid for glorifying genocide

The announcement of Sabra's appearance in the fourth Captain America film in 2022, just one week before the anniversary of the massacre, caused anger among Muslims and Arabs around the world.

As soon as Sabra's appearance in the new Capitan America movie was announced, social media buzzed with criticism of Marvel’s decision, calling Sabra "Captain Apartheid" and quipping that her many powers include "demolishing Palestinian homes with her mind and assassinating Palestinian children with her laser beam eyes".

In addition, in response to this action of Marvel, various movements started to boycott the film. In November, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement called for a boycott of "Marvel's apartheid Israel superhero movie".

“By glorifying the Israeli army and police, Marvel is promoting Israel’s violence against Palestinians and enabling the continued oppression of millions of Palestinians living under Israel’s authoritarian military rule,” wrote the Institute for Middle East Understanding, a U.S.-based pro-Palestinian organization, on Twitter.

Also, pro-Palestine users criticized the movie for its inclusion of an Israeli actress. In late 2022, a petition calling for the removal of the actor garnered over 8,000 signatures.

The change of Sabra's background occurs when the world is angry with the Zionist regime because of the Gaza genocide. It should be noted that Disney, the parent company of Marvel Studios, has come under considerable public pressure, especially after its so-called "Humanitarian" Relief to the Israeli regime in October.

Another Israeli soldier as a superhero 

On the other hand, pro-Zionist users and media did not welcome this change and labelled the rebranding as "Israeli erasure".

“The creation of a new, de-Zionized Sabra, played by Israeli actress Shira Haas, comes amid speculation that Marvel Studios has sought to avoid criticism from an audience bombarded by anti-Israel propaganda,” wrote the Jewish Chronicle.

At least 39,000 Palestinians, the vast majority civilians, have been killed since the start of the genocide. This unprecedented genocide was carried out by the army of a regime that claims to be the most moral army in the world.

After Gal Gadot, Shira Haas is the second Israeli actress to get a role in the world of superheroes, in addition to serving in the army of the Zionist regime. This time, an Israeli actress is playing an Israeli superhero. It can be said that this is the latest attempt of the Jewish industry of superheroes to whitewash the Zionist regime. However, the reaction of people around the world shows public awareness and unity against the Israeli regime, known for its child-killing actions.

AH/SAB