OCTOBER 9, 2024 — Tom Haviv, the creator behind the Hamsa Flag, which symbolizes a possible binational Israeli-Palestinian state, was interviewed by The Forward on October 7 about the flag’s significance in the wake of the war in Gaza.
The concept for the Hamsa Flag originated in 2009 after Haviv encountered a New York Times article about a proposed one-state solution in the region. First unveiled in 2015, the flag showcases a white hamsa on a turquoise background, featuring the phrase “One and Many” in copper text in both Hebrew and Arabic. According to the project website, a turquoise stone often traditionally represents an eye at the center of the hamsa; in this flag, the color was adopted for the background. The hamsa, meanwhile, is a symbol for Jewish and Muslim communities alike and is also recognized by Christians and other faiths across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Balkans. “It’s a symbol that probably predates monotheism… And it’s ultimately a symbol of protection,” said Haviv in the interview.
An updated version released in 2019 replaced the slogan with “Singularity and Multiplicity” and incorporated symbols—a crescent moon and star—to represent Islam and Judaism. Haviv explained his motivation for the slogan change, hoping that the new message will straddle “the line between a political statement and a spiritual call for unity—a straightforward acknowledgment of our shared humanity while embracing our profound differences.”
Image: Ted Eytan, CC BY-SA 4.0
