A growing movement is calling for a boycott of Captain America: Brave New World due to its perceived connections to Israel amid the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

The latest Marvel film, which will officially hit theaters February 14, has come under fire after pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The controversy surrounds the casting of Israeli actress Shira Haas, her character and the Marvel’s alleged ties to Israeli organizations.

Why Are People Boycotting Captain America: Brave New World?

The latest film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) features Israeli superhero Ruth Bat-Seraph, also known as Sabra, a character who has received criticism in the past.

Per pages in the comic, the name Sabra denotes a native-born Israeli and is derived from a prickly pear. She was introduced by creators Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema in 1980s in the Incredible Hulk comic book series. Her original blue and white outfit was inspired by the Israeli flag.

But the name has varying meanings for Israelis and Palestinians. According to a 2022 article from The New York Times: To Israeli Jews, a Sabra can be a person born in Israel. But the name is also a refugee camp in Lebanon, where a Christian militia killed hundreds of Palestinians while Israeli troops observed.

The controversy further stems from the character being a mutant that had ties to the Israeli government, where she worked as a Mossad operative. Mossad is Israel’s national intelligence agency, but some have criticized the group’s efforts to fight terrorism, including alleged kidnapping and assassinations of Palestinians.

According to Palestinian-led movement Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS), Marvel has financially supported Israel’s military, further sparking frustration among activists opposed to the film.

The movement to boycott the film also cites casting of Israeli actress Shira Haas, known for her role in Unorthodox. Critics argue that Haas is a vocal supporter of Israel, and boycotters have accused Marvel of aligning with Israeli interests by featuring her in the film.

But in the latest movie, Sabra has been completely reinvented. In Captain America: Brave New World, she is an Israeli heroine who works for the U.S. government.

Further, Marvel has been accredited with increasing representation on-screen. Cultural consultants have been hired to increase diversity and avoid reinforcing stereotypes. This includes Gerardo Aldana—a professor at University of California, Santa Barbara—who worked on the 2022 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever for inspiration of Mayan culture.

How Has Marvel Responded to the Controversy?

Back in 2022, Marvel told Variety: “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.”

It did not dissuade protestors. Per Variety, demonstrators at Tuesday’s premiere chanted “Free Palestine” and held signs that read: “Sabra has got to go” and “Disney supports genocide,” among other phrases.

A Reddit thread pushing for the boycott of the film has since been deleted.

When Did the Movement Begin?

The online campaign to boycott Captain America: Brave New World is part of a broader movement calling for a boycott of major corporations perceived to have ties to Israel.

Discussions on platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) began circulating in 2022 when the film was first announced.

The boycott gained mainstream attention following Marvel’s announcement of Haas’ role, sparking widespread criticism from activists.

When Will Captain America: Brave New World Be released?

Despite the controversy, Captain America: Brave New World is set for release on February 14 in the United Staes.

With protests ongoing, it remains unclear how Marvel will handle the backlash leading up to the film’s debut.