White mug printed with the Palestinian flag in black, white, green and red

Palestinian Flag Colors & Meaning: History of the Flag of Palestine

Four colors, three stripes and one triangle. The Palestinian flag is one of the most recognizable flags in the world, seen at gatherings, on balconies, in classrooms and on clothing from Ramallah to Chicago. But where do its colors come from, and what do they mean? Here is a clear, friendly guide to the history and symbolism behind the Palestinian flag.

What Does the Palestinian Flag Look Like?

The flag of Palestine is a horizontal tricolor of black, white and green stripes (top to bottom), with a red triangle at the hoist, the side closest to the flagpole. Its official proportions are 1:2, meaning it is twice as long as it is tall.

Those four colors, black, white, green and red, are known as the Pan-Arab colors. You will also see them, in different arrangements, on the flags of Jordan, Kuwait, Sudan, the UAE and others, because they share the same historical root.

Where Did the Colors Come From?

The design traces back to the flag of the Arab Revolt of 1916, the uprising against Ottoman rule led by Sharif Hussein of Mecca. That flag combined the same four colors in nearly the same layout, and it became a banner for the broader Arab national movement in the region.

Historians do not fully agree on who first chose the color combination. Accounts credit an Arab literary club in Istanbul around 1909, the Young Arab Society founded in Paris in 1911, or British diplomat Mark Sykes, who was involved in designing the revolt's flag. What is well documented is that the colors were in use by Sharif Hussein by 1917 and spread widely afterward.

The Poem Behind the Colors

One of the most beloved explanations comes from a verse by the 14th-century Iraqi poet Safi al-Din al-Hilli. His lines describe:

  • White as our deeds
  • Black as our battles
  • Green as our fields
  • Red as our swords

Many Palestinians still share this poetic reading when explaining the flag to their children.

What Do the Four Colors Mean?

The most commonly cited meaning links each color to a historic Arab dynasty or era:

  • Black represents the Abbasid Caliphate, centered in Baghdad.
  • White represents the Umayyad Caliphate, centered in Damascus.
  • Green represents the Fatimid Caliphate, and is also widely associated with Islam and with the land itself.
  • Red represents the Hashemites, the family of Sharif Hussein who led the Arab Revolt.

Over time, everyday meanings have grown around these colors too. Many people describe green as the olive groves and fertile land, white as peace, black as hardship endured, and red as the sacrifice of those who came before. These popular readings are not official, but they show how deeply people connect with the flag.

A Short Timeline of the Palestinian Flag

  • 1916–1917: The Arab Revolt flag appears under Sharif Hussein.
  • 1920s–1930s: Versions of the flag are used by Palestinians, including during the 1936–1939 revolt.
  • 18 October 1948: The All-Palestine Government adopts the Arab Revolt flag; the Arab League later recognizes it as the flag of Palestine.
  • 1964: The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) adopts it as the flag of the Palestinian people.
  • 15 November 1988: It is adopted as the flag of the State of Palestine.
  • 30 September 2015: The Palestinian flag is raised at United Nations headquarters in New York for the first time. Palestinians now mark 30 September as Flag Day.

For many years after 1967, displaying the flag in the West Bank and Gaza was banned. That restriction is part of why everyday symbols became so meaningful, and it is one reason the watermelon became a symbol of Palestine: its red, green, black and white echo the flag's colors.

Wearing the Palestinian Flag With Pride

Whether you are Palestinian, part of the wider Arab diaspora, or an ally who wants to show solidarity, wearing the flag's colors is a simple, everyday way to keep culture visible. A few made-to-order favorites from Me Olives that feature the flag or its colors:

Browse the full Palestine Collection for hoodies, embroidered tees and more. Looking for something for a friend or family member? See our Palestine gift ideas guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the colors of the Palestinian flag mean?

The black, white, green and red are the Pan-Arab colors. They are most often linked to the Abbasid (black), Umayyad (white), Fatimid (green) and Hashemite (red) dynasties. A popular poetic reading by Safi al-Din al-Hilli ties them to deeds, battles, fields and swords.

Why does the Palestinian flag look like the Jordanian flag?

Both come from the 1916 Arab Revolt flag. Jordan's flag adds a white seven-pointed star to the red triangle, while the Palestinian flag has no star.

When was the Palestinian flag adopted?

It was adopted by the All-Palestine Government in 1948, by the PLO as the flag of the Palestinian people in 1964, and as the flag of the State of Palestine in 1988.

Is there a Palestinian Flag Day?

Yes. Since 2015, Palestinians have marked Flag Day on 30 September, the anniversary of the flag first being raised at the United Nations.

The Palestinian flag carries more than a century of history in four simple colors. Knowing that story makes wearing it, or gifting it, all the more meaningful.

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