Our Flag Means Death is the tongue-in-cheek title of an HBO comedy about pirates. Unfortunately, in the real world, there are groups and even nations whose flag means exactly that. And sorry, FBI, I’m not referring to the Gadsden “Don’t Tread On Me” one, beloved of “MAGA extremists.” No, I mean those proudly flown by certain Islamic entities.

The “Jihadist Flag”?

Since Islamic State (IS) slashed its way onto the scene about a decade ago, many folks know what its flag looks like. The Islamic creed, “there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger,” in white Arabic letters on a black background. This is sometimes called the “jihadist flag.” True, the two most prominent groups using it are IS and al-Qaeda (AQ). Although the latter’s has much more sophisticated Arabic script, both say the same thing. Hamas supporters were defiantly waving this “black jihad flag” last weekend. In London.

No, It’s Just the Islamic Flag

But banners proclaiming Islam’s core beliefs are not just hoisted by “radical” or “extremist” Muslims. In fact, they go back at least 1200 years, when the same standards were carried by the Abbasids. That group established what is deemed the “Golden Age” of Islam, and ruled for 500 years. Like Muhammad’s warriors before them, and the Ottomans and others after them, the Abbasids conquered and killed in the name of Islam. The modern Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the umbrella organization of the world’s majority-Muslim states, festooned “Allahu Akbar”—“Allah is greatest”—on its seal and flag until 2011. (Since then that phrase has been replaced with an image of the Ka`bah.)

One That Some Nations Use

Currently four majority-Muslim nation-states display key Islamic tenets on their flags. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s sports the entire shahadah, “profession of faith,” in white Arabic letters on a green background. With a sword pictured just below, for good measure. It thus proclaims to the world the same message as does the flag of IS or AQ. Afghanistan’s flag says exactly the same, but in reversing the field into black letters on a white background. It’s simply back to the (pre-American invasion of 2001) future there.

The other two countries brandishing Islamic credentials on their nation’s official symbols are Iraq and Iran. The former “Allahu akbar” in green against a red, white and black background. While the latter highlights simply “Allah” in red script (same in Persian as in Arabic) against a green, white, and red backdrop. But also includes “Allahu akbar” numerous times in sideways script running horizontally.

Hamas Plagiarized the Muslim Brotherhood

So where does Hamas fall on this visual spectrum? Remember that it’s an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Ikhwan al-Muslimun advertises its Islamic bona fides via a Quran, two crossed scimitars, and the adage “Prepare!” (Yet while five Arab countries and Russia list it as a terrorist entity, the U.S. does not.) Hamas kicks that up several notches, blending jihadist and nationalist imagery. At the center is the Dome of the Rock behind crossed swords, topped by a map of “Palestine” in place of Israel. The shahadah, in two sections, encircles the center. The word “Filastin” appears, as well as the full name from which Hamas is derived (“Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyah,” “Islamic Resistance Movement”). This banner leaves no doubt as to its intentions: wielding Islam as a weapon to create a Palestinian state, centered on Jerusalem.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Banner Is Even More Muslim

The flag of Hamas’ older and more militant cousin, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), waxes even more violent — and Islamic. The map of “Filastin,” again replacing Israel, is superimposed on the Dome of the Rock. Out of that grow two fists and two rifle barrels. The name of the group is at the bottom. But right above the Dome is “Allah Akbar.” And encircling the top half is a verse from the Quran. “And those who wage jihad in our cause, we will surely guide their way. And certainly Allah highlights those who do well.” Although not mentioned much, PIJ has been helping Hamas attack Israel. Such Islamic groups make up 81% of the world’s terrorists — although Muslims are only 21% of the global population.

Some Muslim Flags Really Do Mean Death

Both Hamas’ and PIJ’s flags mean to inflict death on the state of Israel — and its people. Both directly invoke Islam to do so. Both are also clearly derivatives of the MB’s politically-charged brand of Islam. Three of the four nation-states whose flags trumpet their allegiance to Muhammad and Allah may not hold the same malevolence toward Israel. But Saudi Arabia, Iraq (openly and materially) and Afghanistan (covertly and largely rhetorically) all support the Palestinians — and thus Hamas. The Islamic Republic of Iran does officially wish death to Israel (and to America — but that’s another story).

And Some Non-Muslims Salute Them, Too

Sadly, many Americans seem to, as well. And not just on liberal college campuses. In red state Texas’ largest city, Dallas. In even redder Florida. And in New York City, backed by members of the Democrat Party’s Congressional “Squad.” Of course, the most egregious example of pro-Hamas imagery was tweeted by the Chicago branch of Black Lives Matter. It showed a Hamas paragliding terrorist over “I stand with Palestine.” BLM may just as well have disseminated the Hamas or PIJ flag and brayed how happy they were that 1400 Israelis were slaughtered. But this should surprise no one. BLM has been supporting Hamas for several years. The organization did delete the tweet, but then doubled down on its mindless “intersectionality.”

Time to Reduce Jihadist Flags to Tatters

Our world is infused with images. Terrorist groups in general are masters at manipulating people via such. Islamic ones in particular can count on their religious symbols striking a chord with the masses. And, it seems, not just their co-religionists. Even the Leftist historian Howard Zinn was inadvertently on to something in this regard. “There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people for a purpose which is unattainable.” He meant the American flag. But that statement applies even more to these Islamic flags. The Palestinian people voted Hamas terrorists into power, thinking that group could obtain for them what the PLO, and Palestinian National Authority, could not. Israel, with U.S. support, is being forced to prove—yet again—that was a mistake. God willing, after this the Hamas and PIJ flags will be reduced to mere scraps of cloth, unable any longer to inflame the hopes of the Palestinian people. Only then will the Palestinians stop following such false flags. And finally make peace with Israel.

Timothy Furnish holds a Ph.D. in Islamic, World and African history from Ohio State University and a M.A. in Theology from Concordia Seminary. He is a former U.S. Army Arabic linguist and, later, civilian consultant to U.S. Special Operations Command. He’s the author of books on the Middle East and Middle-earth, a history professor and sometime media opiner (as, for example, on Fox News Channel’s War Stories: Fighting ISIS). He currently writes for and consults The Stream on International Security matters.