Introduction
The flag of Palestine is a horizontal tricolor of black, white, and green bands, with a red triangle extending from the hoist side. This design is a direct descendant of the Pan-Arab colors, which symbolize Arab unity and heritage. The flag's layout is identical to several other national flags in the region, sharing a common historical and symbolic origin.
Adopted officially in the late 20th century, it serves as the national symbol for the State of Palestine and is recognized by numerous states and international organizations. Its simple yet powerful geometry makes it highly distinctive and easily recognizable. The flag is flown widely within Palestinian territories and by the diaspora as a symbol of national identity and aspiration.
Meaning & Symbolism
The colors of the flag are deeply symbolic within the Pan-Arab movement. The black band represents the Abbasid Caliphate, the white band symbolizes the Umayyad Caliphate, and the green band stands for the Fatimid Caliphate. The red triangle is associated with the Hashemite dynasty and the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire, and it also represents the blood of martyrs in the Palestinian context.
Together, these elements connect the Palestinian national identity to a broader Arab and Islamic history. The flag's design is thus not merely a national symbol but also a statement of historical continuity and shared cultural heritage across the Arab world.
History of the Palestine Flag
The current design was first adopted by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on May 28, 1964. Its origins trace back to the flag of the Arab Revolt of 1916-1918, designed by Sharif Hussein. The Palestinian flag was officially proclaimed the national flag of the Palestinian people by the PLO in 1964 and was later endorsed as the flag of the State of Palestine upon its declaration of independence in 1988.
It was formally adopted by the Palestinian Authority following the Oslo Accords in 1993. The flag's status was solidified in the Basic Law of the Palestinian Authority of 2002, which affirmed it as the official national flag.
Curiosities
- The flag is identical in design to the flags of Jordan and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and similar to flags of Sudan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, all sharing the Pan-Arab color scheme.
- In 2015, the flag was raised for the first time at UNESCO headquarters in Paris and at the United Nations headquarters in New York after Palestine was granted non-member observer state status.
- The exact shades of the colors are not officially standardized by law, but common approximations are deep red (Pantone 7620 C), black (Pantone Black C), white, and green (Pantone 355 C).
Download Flag
Download the flag of Palestine in high-quality SVG vector format or PNG raster images. SVG files can be scaled to any size without losing quality.
Construction Sheet
The flag's proportions are 1:2 (height to width). It consists of three equal horizontal stripes of black (top), white (middle), and green (bottom). An equilateral red triangle, with its base on the hoist side, extends from the hoist to the center of the flag. The triangle's apex touches the midpoint of the flag's fly edge.
Flags Similar to Palestine Flag
Jordan
Kuwait
South Sudan
red/white/black/green
United Arab Emirates
red/green/white/black
Iraq
red/white/black/green
Common Misidentifications
Often confused with the flag of Jordan, which has an identical tricolor and red triangle but adds a white seven-pointed star.