The Inverted Red Triangle: A Symbol of Hate
By Or Shaked
A Nazi-Era Symbol of Persecution
Modern Use by Hamas and Its Supporters
A Dangerous Symbol of Anti-Semitism
Alternative Interpretations
Historically, the inverted red triangle was used by the Nazis to identify political prisoners in concentration camps, making its modern use particularly painful for Jewish communities. Today, the symbol has become associated with Hamas, and some protest groups use it to glorify violent resistance against Israel.
A Nazi-Era Symbol of Persecution
According to Holocaust historians, this triangle was part of a dehumanizing classification system, where each prisoner was identified by different colored triangles depending on their “crime.” The red triangle identified political dissidents, including socialists and communists. After World War II, the survivors of Nazi persecution and their families reclaimed the red triangle as a symbol of resistance to fascism.
Modern Use by Hamas and Its Supporters
Following the October 7, 2023, massacre, the symbol began appearing in Hamas-produced propaganda, marking Israeli military targets. Its use spread to anti-Israel protests, particularly on college campuses and social media, where demonstrators use it to show solidarity with Palestinians. However, the symbol’s connection to Hamas represents a troubling glorification of violence under the guise of “resistance.”
While some may claim they use the inverted red triangle innocently to express support for Palestinians, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) warns that the symbol’s modern association often extends far beyond mere solidarity, serving instead as a representation of Hamas and its violent methods. Its use in protests and online content can thus contribute to the normalization of terrorism and extremism under the pretense of resistance.
A Dangerous Symbol of Anti-Semitism
Beyond its association with Hamas, the red triangle has also been weaponized in acts of anti-Semitism. In multiple instances, pro-Palestinian mobs have painted the inverted red triangle on homes and institutions connected to Jews, including a Jewish director’s home and a museum in Brooklyn. In such cases, the symbol is not a neutral or historical reference but a deliberate act of hate and intimidation that marks Jewish individuals and institutions as targets for violence.
Proponents of the symbol argue that it can represent “resistance” or “liberation,” drawing on its appearance in the Palestinian flag, where it represents the role the Hashemite dynasty played in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. This interpretation, however, often ignores the triangle’s more violent modern usage, especially when employed by groups like Hamas and its proponents. Some scholars also note that the symbol, when used in protests, can evoke the desire for Palestinian statehood or freedom from Israeli occupation. But as Costanza Musu, a scholar of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, explains, “it’s a lot harder to say that it wasn’t intended as a way of identifying a target, when it’s painted on a Jewish person’s house, far from a college protest where students are using a variety of symbols.” When the symbol is used in a context of anti-Semitic slogans or attacks, it carries a much more dangerous meaning.
Sources: “Inverted Red Triangle,” Anti-Defamation League.
“Classification System in Nazi Concentration Camps,” Holocaust Encylopedia.
Julie Gregson, “Red triangle symbol: Germany debating a ban,” Deutsche Welle, (April 8, 2024).
Natalie Stechyson, “What does the inverted red triangle used by some pro-Palestinian demonstrators symbolize?,” CBC, (June 4, 2024).
Lauren Markoe, “Pro-Palestinian vandals are painting red inverted triangles on their targets. What does it mean?,” Forward, (August 8, 2024).
Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library
