PRO-PALESTINE MEMES AGAINST THE 2023 ISRAEL INVASION: A SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

This research examines pro-Palestine memes made during the 2023 Israeli invasion and explores how people use images and words online to show protest and support. Using a qualitative method, the study analyzes pro-Palestine memes through semiotic analysis by using Barthe’s semiotic model to understand the hidden meanings behind pictures, symbols, and captions. The memes share strong messages while also challenging the way mainstream media presents the conflict. Many memes use humor, satire, and emotional images to spread awareness and encourage people to speak up. These online posts act as a form of digital resistance, giving voice to oppressed communities and highlighting ongoing colonial influence and political inequality. This study helps us understand how social media memes have become an important tool for activism and opens the door for future research on protest memes in other global conflicts.