During the Israel–Hamas war, the symbol of the inverted red triangle has been used by both Hamas and its supporters since the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.[1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Red_triangle.svg/220px-Red_triangle.svg.png)
Combat footage published by Hamas which show them fighting in the Gaza Strip have used a red triangle to indicate Israeli military targets such as tanks just before they are struck.[2][3] Usage of the triangle has spread to the international war-related protests, with some anti-Israel protesters using the symbol.[4]
Some theorize the symbol originates from the red triangle that appears in the Palestinian flag or from Nazi concentration camp badges.[4][5] However, the Nazis used the inverted red triangle to identify prisoners with political views opposed to Nazism, not necessarily Jewish prisoners.[2]
In July 2024, the Senate of Berlin voted to ban the symbol following an urgent motion filed by the Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party.[6] Niklas Schrader, a member of Die Linke, cautioned that banning the symbol could unintentionally lead to the outlawing of other organizations. The Association of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime displays the triangle on their flag accompanied by prisoner stripes, a design that has also been seen at pro-Israel demonstrations.[4]
References
- ^ Rushing, Ellie (10 May 2024). "Explaining the inverted red triangle symbol that appeared at the Penn encampment this week". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b Stechyson, Natalie (4 June 2024). "What does the inverted red triangle used by some pro-Palestinian demonstrators symbolize?". CBC News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Foltyn, Simona (26 April 2024). "'We are with them': support for Hamas grows among Palestinians in Lebanon". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Jackson, James (7 July 2024). "Berlin bans red triangle symbol used by Hamas to mark targets". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Pro-Palestinian activists in Berlin adopt new Hamas symbol". i24 News. 15 June 2024. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Fatima, Sakina (9 July 2024). "German House votes to ban red triangle symbol used by Hamas". The Siasat Daily. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.