
Israeli forces again storm prominent Palestinian bookshop in Jerusalem
Israeli forces stormed the Educational Bookshop near the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday.
Local reports said they detained Imad Muna, the Palestinian owner of the library situated in Salahuddin Street, close to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and took him for questioning.
Nasser Awda, a lawyer representing Muna, told the Arab48 news outlet that Israeli forces caused significant damage to the library's contents, seized several books, took the premises' keys and shut the place down without any judicial order or legal justification.
'They also removed people who had gathered in front of the library after the raid," he said.
This assault comes a month after the Israeli police's previous storming of two of the three branches of the Educational Bookshop, on 10 February.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
During that raid, two of the shops' owners, Mahmoud Muna and his nephew Ahmed, were arrested on charges of "selling inciting books"
The court released them the following day, though the prosecution requested an extension of their detention for eight more days.
At the time, the raid was condemned by the Palestinian National Library as a 'dangerous escalation targeting the Palestinian cultural and intellectual landscape'.
Israel raids beloved Palestinian bookstores and detains owners Read More »
The Educational Bookshop has been a significant cultural centre for almost 40 years, catering to diplomats, journalists, tourists and researchers alike.
In 2011, it was recognised as the best library in Palestine.
The Palestinian National Library said in February that the assault on the bookshop was 'part of a systematic policy aimed at destroying the Palestinian cultural and educational infrastructure in Jerusalem,' according to official news agency Wafa.
The statement also highlighted that the Israeli aim was to enforce censorship on Palestinian intellectual output by criminalising the possession of books that represent Palestinian national identity, including children's books and historical references.
'It is an assault on the Palestinian right to knowledge and education,' said the statement.
Several foreign governments also condemend the raid and arrests.
The European Union delegation "expressed deep concern at the Israeli police raid [...] and the arrests" in a statement on X, while the French consulate in Jerusalem denounced "a blatant attack [...] against basic democratic values".
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Middle East Eye
39 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
West Bank: Two Palestinians killed and 16 injured after Israeli attack on Nablus
At least 16 Palestinians have been injured and two killed after the Israeli military continued a large-scale attack on Nablus in the West Bank, according to AFP on Tuesday. Both Nidal Amira, 40, and Khaled Amira, 35, were reportedly killed in the attacks. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said that at least three people sustained injuries from bullets, four from physical assault, and dozens more from tear gas inhalation. Ambulance crews were prevented from reaching the injured, according to the PRCS. This is the third year in a row that a large-scale operation targeting people in the old city has taken place. Almost 1,000 people have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023.


The National
an hour ago
- The National
Centcom has given range of options to Trump on use of military force against Iran, Kurilla says
The head of US Central Command said on Tuesday that he has provided US President Donald Trump with options that could be used against Iran if Tehran and Washington fail to reach a new nuclear deal. The US and Iran are in continuing discussions over a new deal that would put limits on Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. The talks are expected to continue this week. 'I have provided the Secretary of Defence and the President a wide range of options,' Gen Michael Kurilla told a House Armed Services Committee hearing. Asked if the US Central Command, the military command responsible for promoting and defending US interests in the Middle East, was prepared to respond with 'overwhelming force' to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon, Gen Kurilla responded 'yes'. He added later that he was 'in all favour of having a negotiated settlement that prevents Iran from getting a nuclear weapon because of the consequences of conflict'. His comments come amid reports that Israel was finalising plans to strike nuclear sites in the country – a threat Israel has been making for months. Last month, Mr Trump said that he had warned Israel against such a move. 'I think it would increase risk to our forces in the region,' Gen Kurilla said of a potential Israeli attack. Gen Kurilla, in his final appearance before Congress ahead of leaving his post this month, also criticised Iran for continuing to arm Yemen's Houthis. 'Right now that the Iranian proxies are at one of the weakest levels they've been, with the decimation, of the disintegration of Hezbollah Hamas. However, the Houthis, the biggest challenge with the Houthis is they are being provided with Iranian weapons,' Gen Kurilla said. Gen Kurilla said that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps experts were in the country to help the Houthis assemble and learn to use the weapons. The 'vast majority' of weapons are coming into the country on 'stateless dhows' or on container ships heading to Djibouti, where the UN has a mechanism in place to inspects 'So this is going to be a challenge going forward. We have got to stop the flow of the weapons into Yemen.' On Gaza, Gen Kurilla said the US military was not actively engaged in aid delivery and distribution in the war-ravaged enclave. 'Israel has contracted an American company that is doing the distribution inside of Gaza. Hamas hates that, because Hamas no longer has control over that distribution,' he said. The US and Israel have claimed that Hamas has been hijacking aid meant for Palestinians in Gaza. After Israel enacted an aid blockade of the enclave following the collapse of a ceasefire in March, the US announced the foundation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which would be responsible for delivering assistance. The UN and other aid organisations have been sidelined by the US-backed project, which has been plagued by violence at its distribution sites that local authorities have blamed on Israeli troops.


The National
an hour ago
- The National
Cameras capture moment Israeli soldiers shoot dead Palestinian in West Bank raid
The man approached the soldiers with his arms raised during a raid in the old quarter of Nablus