Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, Israeli authorities have imposed a series of restrictive measures on Palestinian cultural institutions in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
In a recent escalation, these measures targeted the Educational Bookshop in East Jerusalem, owned by Mahmoud Muna.
On Sunday, 9 February, Israeli police raided both branches of the bookstore, arresting Mahmoud and his nephew Ahmad Muna, who was managing one of the locations at the time.
Speaking to The New Arab after the raid, Mahmoud shared, “The Israeli police came to the bookshop with a search warrant, which didn’t give them the right to arrest us. So, at some point, they changed their accusations against us from ‘incitement’ to ‘disturbing public order’ — because under that charge, they can detain people.”
Although the two were released 48 hours later, both Mahmoud and Ahmad remained under house arrest for another five days and were banned from entering their bookstore for an additional 20 days.
As Mahmoud puts it, an incident like this had never occurred in the more than 40 years since the bookstore was founded, a place where he has spent nearly his entire life, along with his brothers Murad and Iyad, who temporarily stepped in to keep the family business running during Mahmoud and Ahmad’s absence.
“We have so many memories in the bookshop, and we read our first books here. It is important for us that the shop remains open while Mahmoud and Ahmad can’t be here. So, my brother Iyad and I are currently helping out,” Murad shared with The New Arab.
‘Ridiculous to call these books inciting’
Recalling additional events that followed the day of the raid, Mahmoud told The New Arab that he questioned the officers about their justification for the accusation of ‘incitement’.
He noted that more than 250 books were seized under this pretext.
“They started translating the books using Google Translate — simply holding up a phone and running the text through the app. If a book had a Palestinian flag, an icon, or even a keffiyeh on it, they would immediately translate the title and confiscate it,” Mahmoud explained.
He added, “It’s ridiculous to call these books inciting. Selling books is not a crime. To make matters worse, the policemen conducting the search didn’t even know English, so they judged the books solely by their covers. But a cover and a blurb never reveal the full content — you actually have to read it. Of course, these weren’t the kind of people who read books. In a way, it was almost funny, yet certainly tragic, in an Orwellian or McCarthyistic manner.”
Speaking about the range of works offered at the two bookstores, Mahmoud shared that one branch focuses on books written in Arabic, while the other specialises in English-language books, with both branches carrying numerous works on Israeli-Palestinian history, the conflict, and Arabic language learning.
Lack of respect
Like any bookstore owner, Ahmad and Mahmoud treat the books as treasures.
When Mahmoud saw the police putting them into plastic bags, he offered boxes to prevent damage, but as he told The New Arab, the police refused.
According to Murad, of the more than 250 books seized, the police kept only eight, while the rest were returned to the Muna family a few hours after the arrest, although some were damaged due to the raid and improper handling in the plastic bags.
“What really hurt me was the lack of respect for the books. There are proper ways to handle, transport, and treat books. But throwing them into garbage bags like old clothes or shoes is neither professional nor respectful,” Mahmoud said.
Currently, among the eight books still confiscated is a children’s colouring book titled From the River to the Sea, by South African writer and illustrator Nathi Ngubane.
Mahmoud also noted that a book he co-published last year, featuring testimonies from over 100 Gazans before and during the ongoing war, was neither seized nor mentioned during the interrogation, which, as he put it, surprised him.
Community solidarity
Beyond the physical loss and damage to the books, the raid has had a lasting impact on the mental health of the Muna family.
Mahmoud’s 11-year-old daughter, Leila, was in the shop during the raid and witnessed the arrest of her father and cousin.
“Leila is still traumatised. She seems to be doing better since we returned, but I know these things can stay with people for a long time,” Mahmoud said.
He added that, while healing will take time, the family has found comfort in the overwhelming support from customers and the wider community, with many people, including members of Israeli leftist groups and Jewish diaspora organisations, visiting the bookshop to show their solidarity in the days following the detention.
“A bookstore in Tel Aviv even went on a one-day strike, refusing to sell books in solidarity with us. This gesture was very touching and had a strong impact on us,” Mahmoud said.
Deliberate restrictions
For the Muna family, the bookshop is more than just a business — it is a space for dialogue and exchange.
“The bookstore has become part of our identity. As a family, we have always tried to use it as a workshop — a place for conversations, discussions, and open exchanges of ideas. It is a place where people can speak freely and candidly,” Mahmoud explained.
In sharing this, Mahmoud noted that the main branch of the bookshop also serves as a café, making it a popular refuge for a diverse crowd of tourists, students, journalists, and diplomats, with many considering the bookshop their second home.
“Support, solidarity, and media coverage are essential now because they remind us that we’re not alone. They make us feel supported. We don’t want to be falsely accused, and we are determined to challenge these slanders and clear our name. It’s important to do this with the backing of the community and the wider network of freedom and book lovers,” Mahmoud shared.
Not an isolated incident
Speaking about the future, the Muna family remains uncertain about why the raids took place at this particular moment.
However, they do know that this attack on their bookstore is not an isolated incident.
In recent months, Israeli authorities have imposed increasing restrictions across various sectors, affecting not only media outlets like Al Jazeera and Haaretz but also cultural institutions, including theatres, music schools, and art spaces.
Sharing his thoughts on these events, Mahmoud said, “Films and plays have been banned, and concerts by singers and musicians have been cancelled. It is clear that cultural spaces, especially those representing Palestinian identity, are being deliberately restricted.”
Elias Feroz studied Islamic religion and history as part of his teacher training programme at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. Elias also works as a freelance writer and focuses on a variety of topics, including racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, the politics of history, and the culture of remembrance
Follow him on X: @FerozElias
