Palestine Flag PNG
Palestine is a partially recognized state in the Middle East, as proclaimed in November 1988 by a UN decision. Palestine is recognized by 146 countries, has observer status in the UN, and membership in the Arab League. The formation of the state of Palestine is still incomplete. De facto, the state exists in the format of the Palestinian National Authority, which has limited internal autonomy and controls only a part of the West Bank.
However, this does not negate the fact that Palestine has official symbols, a flag, and a coat of arms. The flag of Palestine is a powerful symbol of national self-determination and historical struggle. It was adopted by the All-Palestinian Government in 1948 and by the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1964. Decades later, in 1988, the flag was adopted as the national symbol of Palestine.
History of the Flag
During World War I, Palestine and other Ottoman territories in the Middle East came under the de facto control of the British army. In 1922, Britain received a mandate from the League of Nations to administer Palestine. The status of Mandate Palestine existed until 1948 when the State of Israel was established. All this time the only official symbol of the territory was the British flag.
Of course, there were a few modifications: for example, the standard of the High Commissioner of Palestine, where the Commissioner’s seal was placed over the British flag; and British ships in Palestine flew blue and red stern flags with a white circle in which the name of the Territory was written. No other flags were allowed.
The year 1929 was a milestone in the development of Palestinian national identity. In August, a series of riots broke out throughout Palestine against Jewish neighborhoods. In this atmosphere, in October 1929, the idea of a special flag for a future sovereign Palestine emerged.
The flag of the 1916 Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire was used as a basis. On October 18, 1948, the flag of the Arab Revolt was adopted by the All-Palestinian Government and subsequently recognized by the Arab League as the flag of Palestine.
A modified version of the flag, with a change in the order of the stripes, has been used in Palestine since at least the late 1930s. It was officially adopted as the flag of the Palestinian people by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1964. On November 15, 1988, the PLO adopted the flag as the flag of the state of Palestine, an important step in the Palestinian quest for statehood.
Meaning of Symbols and Colors
The flag of Palestine is a rectangle divided into three horizontal stripes of equal width and a triangle at the left edge. From top to bottom, the colors of the horizontal stripes are as follows: black, white, and green. The triangle on the left is red. The colors and shapes of the elements of the Palestinian Flag have a deep and multi-layered meaning, closely related to the history and culture of the region.
The colors of the Palestinian flag are the Pan-Arab colors. Each of the colors symbolizes the great dynasties whose representatives laid the foundation for the further building of the Palestinian state.
Thus, Black is the color of the flag of the Abbasid Caliphate. Green is the color of the Umayyad Caliphate. White is the color of the Fatimid Caliphate. Red is the color of the Hashemite dynasty that ruled Syria, Iraq, Hijaz, and Jordan.
However, each of these colors has additional interpretations:
- Red, represented by the triangle, is traditionally associated with courage, strength, and sacrifice. Also, this color on the flag of Palestine symbolizes the blood spilled for the freedom and independence of the country.
- The black color on the flag symbolizes the dark times spent by the people of Palestine under foreign rule and also represents the essence and pain of the tragedy of the Palestinian people.
- The white stripe, as opposed to black, represents peace and freedom. Also, this color symbolizes this purity and spirituality, and the people’s faith in a peaceful resolution of the conflict and justice.
- Green is known to symbolize, first of all, the Islamic religion. In addition, the color is associated with fertility, wealth, and rebirth.
Use of the Flag
The flag of Palestine is widely used both inside and outside Palestine. It is not only the official state symbol of the Palestinian Authority, but also a symbol of Palestinian identity and the struggle for independence. The flag is often seen at rallies, demonstrations, and cultural and sporting events associated with the Palestinian people.
The Palestinian flag has traditionally served as a symbol of unity and resistance against Israeli occupation and is often used around the world as an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Coat of Arms
Another important state symbol of Palestine is the Coat of Arms, adopted in 1988. The coat of arms of Palestine is an image of the Eagle of Saladin, on whose chest is a classic shield with the country’s flag displayed vertically. In its paws, the eagle holds a cartouche on which is written the name of the state in Arabic: جمهورية مصالسلطة الفلسطينيية, “Palestinian Autonomy”.
There are two color options for the Coat of Arms of Palestine: the Saladin eagle can be depicted in black and gray, making it powerful and aggressive; or in gold. The coat of arms with the flag image looks the same in both versions.
