Pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered outside the Hollywood premiere of Captain America: Brave New World on Tuesday, calling out Marvel and Disney for platforming Israeli actress Shira Haas and the Zionist propaganda character Sabra. Protesters held signs reading “Sabra has got to go,” “Disney supports genocide,” and “#Pray4Jasmine,” making it clear that the entertainment industry cannot ignore Israel’s crimes against Palestinians. Chants of “Free, free, free Palestine” and “Disney, Disney, you can’t hide” rang out as the protest disrupted Marvel’s scheduled live stream, forcing the company to replace it with a trailer.
The boycott of Captain America is part of a broader rejection of Hollywood’s complicity in whitewashing Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which has killed over 48,000 Palestinians since October 2023. The inclusion of Sabra, originally a Mossad agent in the comics, has long been condemned as an attempt to normalize Israeli occupation and apartheid. The character’s name is also inseparable from the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre, where up to 3,000 Palestinian and Lebanese civilians were slaughtered by a militia backed by the Israeli army.
Zionist Military Ties and the Push to Boycott Marvel
Marvel attempted to downplay the controversy by altering Sabra’s backstory, claiming that she no longer works for Mossad but now serves in the U.S. government. However, this superficial change has failed to address the real issue: the glorification of an Israeli nationalist figure while the occupation continues to kill and displace Palestinians. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has urged the public to boycott Captain America, denouncing Disney for enabling Israeli genocide. “Cancel or don’t sign up for Disney+ subscriptions!” reads a BDS guide, calling out the corporation’s complicity.
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Adding to the outrage, Shira Haas, the Israeli actress playing Sabra, volunteered to serve in the Israeli military despite being medically exempt. Her open support for Israel’s apartheid regime has only strengthened calls for her removal from the film. Despite months of pressure, Marvel refused to replace her, demonstrating its unwavering alignment with Zionist interests. As one social media user put it: “So you don’t have room for an ACTUAL character who can show the impact Sam has as a Black Captain America, but you have room for an IOF [Israeli Occupation Forces] soldier and her propaganda?”
Hollywood’s Role in Covering Up Genocide
Palestinians and their allies are not backing down. Across social media, activists are urging audiences to boycott Captain America: Brave New World, highlighting Marvel’s complicity in whitewashing Israeli war crimes. A viral video circulating on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) calls on viewers to “listen to the call from Palestinian civil society” and refuse to support the film.
Meanwhile, Haas, unbothered by the rightful backlash, returned to social media after the premiere with a dismissive message: “Thank you all. Good night.” Her indifference to the suffering of Palestinians only reaffirms why this boycott is essential.
As Israel continues its brutal war on Gaza, corporate giants like Disney and Marvel cannot be allowed to normalize Zionist violence. The protests at the Captain America premiere sent a clear message: the world will not stay silent as Hollywood shields apartheid and genocide under the guise of entertainment.