Israeli undercover agents raided the most renowned Palestinian bookstore in East Jerusalem on Sunday, confiscating books related to Palestine and arresting its owners. The store, known for its extensive collection of literary and academic works on Palestine and the Middle East, has long been a gathering place for intellectuals, writers, and visitors. For decades, customers have come to browse its shelves, attend lectures, or simply enjoy a conversation over coffee with the owners.

The raid targeted two bookstores on Salah Al-Din Street under orders from an Israeli judge. Security footage showed bookseller and writer Mahmoud Muna watching as plainclothes officers scanned book titles, stuffed them into trash bags, and carried them away. Drawers were searched, and both Mahmoud and his cousin Ahmad Muna were arrested. Inside the bookstore, Mahmoud’s brother Murad described the scene with disbelief, explaining that the officers took every book featuring the Palestinian flag or even the word "Palestine." Some bookshelves were overturned, and scattered books lay across the floor.

Israeli police later claimed the arrests were due to "inciting content" found in the bookstore, citing as an example a children's colouring book titled From the River to the Sea. However, during a court hearing, the charge was redefined as "disturbing public order." The police requested an eight-day detention, but the judge extended their custody for only one day before placing them under house arrest for five days. Their lawyer denounced the case as a clear attempt to suppress Palestinian voices, violating both Israeli law and international principles of free speech.

Outside the courtroom, dozens of protesters gathered in solidarity, carrying signs that read "fascism." Among them was American author Nathan Thrall, whose recent book on Palestinian life under occupation has gained international attention. He described the bookstore as one of the last remaining cultural spaces for Palestinians in East Jerusalem and condemned the raid as part of a broader effort to erase Palestinian presence in the city.

This attack on a Palestinian bookstore is not an isolated incident. Israeli authorities have long targeted Palestinian cultural and educational institutions in Jerusalem, shutting down centres, arresting scholars, and seizing books. In 2020, the Yabous Cultural Centre and the Edward Said Institute were raided, and the Hakawati Theatre faced threats of closure. As Israeli repression intensifies, Palestinian cultural spaces continue to shrink, yet their significance as symbols of resistance and identity only grows stronger.