Quick answer: the Palestine flag has three horizontal stripes (black, white and green from top to bottom) and a red triangle at the hoist. Its four colors are the pan-Arab colors, which were first combined in this style on the flag of the Arab Revolt in 1916. The Palestine Liberation Organization officially adopted it as the flag of the Palestinian people in 1964.
If you want to understand the Palestinian flag, its meaning and its history, this guide covers the design, the colors, the key dates and where the story is debated. We have kept to what is widely documented, and we say where explanations are traditional rather than proven.
The design of the Palestine flag
The flag has a simple, recognizable layout:
- Three equal horizontal stripes: black on top, white in the middle and green at the bottom.
- A red triangle at the hoist (the side nearest the flagpole), pointing toward the center.
- A length of twice the height.
The four colors and what they mean
Red, black, white and green are known as the pan-Arab colors, and they appear on the flags of several Arab countries. The most common explanation for them links each color to a historic Arab dynasty:
| Color | Commonly linked to |
|---|---|
| Red | The Hashemite dynasty |
| White | The Umayyad dynasty |
| Green | The Fatimid dynasty |
| Black | The Abbasid dynasty |
This is a traditional explanation, and other readings exist. Many people also connect the colors to broader ideas such as the land, peace and sacrifice, but those are personal interpretations, not official definitions.
Where the flag comes from
The colors were first combined in their current style on the flag of the Arab Revolt of 1916, and the Palestine flag is nearly identical to it. Exactly who designed the original is debated, and historians point to several different accounts, so there is no single agreed origin story.
Timeline of the Palestine flag
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1916 | The Arab Revolt flag combines the pan-Arab colors. |
| Early 1920s | A version of the flag, with the stripes in a different order, is used in Palestine. |
| 1948 | The All-Palestine Government adopts the Arab Revolt flag, and the Arab League later recognizes it as Palestine's flag. |
| 1964 | The PLO officially adopts it as the flag of the Palestinian people and sets its standards and dimensions. |
| 1988 | The PLO adopts it as the flag of the State of Palestine. |
| 1990s | Use spreads widely after the Oslo Accords and the creation of the Palestinian Authority in 1993. |
After 1967, displaying the flag in the West Bank and Gaza was restricted by Israel, a restriction that lasted until the early 1990s. Since 2015, Palestine has marked Flag Day on 30 September.
How the Palestine flag compares with other pan-Arab flags
The Palestine flag is easy to confuse with other flags that use the same four colors. The colors are shared, but each country arranges them differently:
| Flag | How the colors are arranged |
|---|---|
| Palestine | Black, white and green horizontal stripes with a red triangle at the hoist |
| Jordan | Black, white and green horizontal stripes with a red triangle at the hoist that also carries a white star |
| Sudan | Red, white and black horizontal stripes with a green triangle at the hoist |
| Kuwait | Green, white and red horizontal stripes with a black trapezoid at the hoist |
| United Arab Emirates | A red vertical band at the hoist, with green, white and black horizontal stripes |
The quickest way to tell the Palestine flag from Jordan's is that Jordan's carries a white seven-pointed star in the red triangle, and Palestine's does not.
The flag and the keffiyeh
The flag and the keffiyeh are the two most recognized Palestinian symbols, and they often appear together. Black and white are shared between the flag and the black-and-white keffiyeh. If you would like to read about the scarf, see our guide to what the black and white keffiyeh means or the history of the keffiyeh.
Our Palestine flag
If you want a flag to display, the Palestine flag is $13.45. It is a 90 x 150 cm flag made of 100% polyester knit, with metal grommets for easy hanging. The product page notes that the print is one-sided and semi-transparent, which makes it best suited to indoor display.
How to display a flag at home
- Use the grommets: hang it from the metal grommets on a wall or a rod, so it hangs flat.
- Keep it indoors: the one-sided print is designed for indoor display, so avoid strong sun and wet weather.
- Hang it the right way up: the red triangle belongs at the hoist side, and the black stripe at the top.
Profits from every order go to food aid for families in Gaza. Delivery takes 5 to 25 days with tracking. To wear the colors instead, see the Everyday Palestinian Keffiyeh and our Palestine scarf guide.
Frequently asked questions
What do the colors of the Palestinian flag mean?
The colors are the pan-Arab colors. The traditional explanation links red to the Hashemites, white to the Umayyads, green to the Fatimids and black to the Abbasids.
When was the Palestine flag adopted?
The PLO officially adopted it as the flag of the Palestinian people in 1964, and as the flag of the State of Palestine in 1988.
Where does the Palestine flag come from?
It is nearly identical to the flag of the Arab Revolt of 1916, which first combined the four pan-Arab colors in this style.
What is the red triangle on the Palestine flag?
It is the red triangle at the hoist, which is part of the flag's design and carries the fourth of the four colors.
What size is our Palestine flag?
It is 90 x 150 cm, with metal grommets for hanging, and it is designed for indoor display.