Peace is the other way around, here.

Yeah, that gesture is somewhat offensive here (like “shit”, maybe).

In the mediaeval period, our long-bow archers wiped the floor with the French, so if they captured an archer they would cut off those two fingers of his right hand to stop him being useful. In retort, pre-battle the English archers would flash v-signs at the French to say “we’re going to shoot shit out of you”.