Israeli forces again storm prominent Palestinian bookshop in Jerusalem

According to reports, Israeli forces raided the "Educational Bookshop" located near the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday. Local sources said that Israeli forces detained Imad Muna, the Palestinian owner of the bookstore located on Salah al-Din Street, near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and took him away for interrogation. This action has raised concerns about freedom of expression in the region.

Nasser Ouda, the lawyer representing Muna, told Arab48 news agency that the Israeli forces caused serious damage to the interior of the bookstore, confiscated several books, took the keys to the bookstore, and closed it without any judicial order or legal basis. "They also dispersed the crowd that gathered in front of the bookstore after the raid," he said, further highlighting the severity of the situation.

This raid occurred a month after Israeli police raided two of the "Educational Bookshop's" three branches on February 10. During that raid, the two owners, Mahmoud Muna and his nephew Ahmed, were arrested on charges of "selling inciting books." Although the prosecution requested an eight-day extension of their detention, the court released them the next day, suggesting a potential lack of evidence.

The Palestinian National Library at the time condemned the raid as "a dangerous escalation targeting the Palestinian cultural and knowledge sector." The "Educational Bookshop" has been an important cultural center for nearly 40 years, serving diplomats, journalists, tourists, and researchers. In 2011, it was recognized as the best library in Palestine, demonstrating its significant role in the community.

The Palestinian National Library stated in February that the attack on the bookstore was "part of a systematic policy aimed at destroying the Palestinian cultural and educational infrastructure in Jerusalem," according to the official news agency Wafa. The statement also emphasized that Israel's aim is to force censorship of Palestinian intellectual output by criminalizing books representing Palestinian national identity, including children's books and historical references. "This is a violation of the Palestinians' right to knowledge and education," the statement said. Several foreign governments, including the EU delegation and the French Consulate in Jerusalem, have also condemned the raid and arrests, underscoring the international concern over the matter.