Finestres bookstore denounces 'attack on culture and freedom of speech' on Palestine books

One of Barcelona's most famous bookstores, Finestres, has denounced an "attack on culture and freedom of speech" on several books talking about the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

"An individual deliberately attacked the 'Israel-Palestine conflict' section in the bookstore," a shared statement on social media reads. A total of 29 books, from seven different titles, were damaged.

The person had "awaited for no one to be aware of their actions, and intentionally poured a cup of coffee on books on Palestine. The events were recorded by the bookstore's security cameras," a text reads.

The damaged books will be sold with a discount, and all revenue will be donated in their entirety to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

These books, available on the bookstore on the 249 Diputació street in Barcelona, are:

—How Israel: Stole Palestinian Property (2 copies)

—We are not numers “The voices of Gaza’s Youth” (3 copies)

—El rabo mueve al perro “Israel y Estados Unidos en el devenir de Oriente” (2 copies)

—El mundo después de Gaza “Una breve historia” (8 copies)

—La insubmisa de Gaza (4 copies)

—Historias de Gaza (9 copies)

The bookstore reported that the bookshelf had around one hundred books chronologically ordered, including original pieces and translations into Catalan and Spanish. The section features around 20 different books on Palestine's past and present.

"We denounce this attack, not only as an act of cultural heritage destruction, but also as an attack against the voices and freedom of expression of the Palestinians," the statement concludes.