VIDEO: Detention of educational bookstore owners in Jerusalem extended

The detention of Mahmoud and Ahmed Muna, owners of the Educational Bookstore in East Jerusalem, has been extended following their arrest on Sunday evening.

"Israeli" police raided the bookstore last week, seizing books on Palestinian history and politics, children’s coloring books, and works by prominent figures such as Ilan Pappé. Authorities labeled some of the books as promoting harmful ideologies, particularly those featuring Palestinian flags.

The Educational Bookstore on Salah Eddin Street East Jerusalem has been a central hub of Palestinian intellectual life in Jerusalem for over 40 years and is known for its extensive collection on the Israeli Occupation and Middle Eastern history.

It has long been a gathering place for intellectuals, diplomats, and locals, and hosts cultural events, making it a vital institution in the city.

The police arrested the Munas on Sunday evening, charging them on suspicion of “selling books containing incitement and support for terrorism.”

One of the confiscated items was a children’s coloring book titled "From the River to the Sea," which references the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

The raid, which also involved the closure of the bookstore, has sparked protests from rights groups, intellectuals, and international diplomats. Rights organization B'Tselem condemned the arrests, calling them an attempt to silence Palestinian intellectuals. 

Grounds for arrest: selling books in Arabic.
Israel is continuing its war on the entire Palestinian people. The attempt to crush the Palestinian people the includes harassment and arrest of intellectuals. Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna, well-known figures in the Jerusalem cultural scene,… https://t.co/vpJX1h15CB

— B'Tselem בצלם بتسيلم (@btselem) February 10, 2025

"Israeli" police have requested an additional eight days of detention to continue investigating the seized books. Diplomats from several countries, including the UK, Brazil, and Switzerland, attended the hearing, further highlighting the international concern over the case.

This raid is part of a broader pattern of restrictions on Palestinian cultural and academic spaces in Jerusalem.

Critics warn that these actions reflect increasing efforts to suppress Palestinian cultural expression and intellectual freedom in the occupied city, with profound implications for freedom of speech and academic discourse in the region.