These Scenes Show Syrians Stepping on the Ba’ath Flag, Not the Palestinian Flag

Misbar investigated the viral scenes and found the claim to be misleading.

Misbar’s comprehensive investigation found the two scenes to show individuals stepping on the Syrian Ba’ath Party flag, not the Palestinian flag.

Scenes Show Syrians Stepping on Ba’ath Party Flag

Contrary to social media users’ viral claim, the scenes do not display the Palestinian flag.

Misbar’s team found the first circulating photo to be taken from a recent video showing individuals wearing a press vest stepping on the flag and clarifying on camera that it is not the Palestinian flag but the Ba’ath Party flag. 

In the video, an individual expresses solidarity with Gaza and Palestine, saying, “You are in our hearts, and we share the same cause… This is the Ba’ath Party flag.”

The Palestinian flag and the Syrian Ba’ath Party flag share the same colors (red, green, white, and black) but differ in design proportions. 

The Palestinian flag features a horizontal tricolor of black, white, and green, with a red triangle at the hoist.

The Ba’ath Party flag’s green color appears darker than the Palestinian flag. 

Commonly, a yellow fringe frames the Ba’ath Party flag at formal events and occasions.

The similarity between the two flags fueled confusion, with several accounts misinterpreting the scenes and deliberately exploiting them to stir controversy.

This misrepresentation is not new, as social media users have been debating the flags' resemblance for years. 

What Is the Baʿath Party?

The Baʿath Party was established in Damascus, Syria, in 1943 by Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din Bitar.

It adopted its constitution in 1947 and merged with the Syrian Socialist Party in 1953 to create the Arab Socialist Baʿath Party.

In 1963, Syrian Baʿathists seized power, but internal factionalism between “progressives” and “nationalists” persisted until 1970, when Hafez al-Assad, a “nationalist,” consolidated control.

This dynamic remained until the 2012 constitution abolished Article 8, which granted the Baʿath Party leadership over the state and society. While the reform legally opened the door to political pluralism, the Baʿath Party continues to wield significant influence in Syrian politics.

Opposition Forces Enter Hama City After Seizing Aleppo

The Syrian army announced that opposition forces entered Hama city following intense clashes, leading the army to redeploy its units outside the strategic city. This marks a significant setback for President Bashar al-Assad.

In a statement on Thursday, the army explained its decision to redeploy to “preserve civilian lives and prevent urban combat.”

Opposition commander Hassan Abdul Ghany confirmed on social media that his fighters began entering Hama after laying siege to the city since Tuesday, following heavy overnight fighting with the Syrian army.

The opposition forces advanced south from their enclave in northwest Syria, seizing Aleppo the previous week before capturing a key hill just north of Hama on Tuesday and pushing towards the city's eastern and western flanks.

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