We invite publishers, editors, and writers around the world who stand for justice, freedom of expression, and the power of the written word, to sign this letter and join our global solidarity collective, Publishers for Palestine.

We honour the courage, creativity, and resistance of Palestinians, their profound love of their historic lands, and their refusal to be erased, or grow silent, despite Israel’s horrific genocidal acts of violence. Against the chilling complicity of Western media and cultural industries, we find hope sparked by the surge of bodies and voices that continue to gather, write, speak, sing, combat falsehoods, and build community and solidarity across social media and on our streets, across the world.

Over the past month, we have witnessed Israel’s incessant bombardment of Gaza as a form of collective punishment, using banned phosphorous bombs and unusual new weapons, with the support of governments in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, Europe, and Australia. We have watched 1.1 million Palestinians flee their homes in the north, only to experience the brutal destruction of hospitals and spaces of shelter in schools, refugee camps, churches, and mosques in the south of Gaza. We are currently witnessing 2.3 million people, of whom 50% are children, being cruelly denied basic necessities of shelter, food, water, fuel, and electricity as Israel launches a ground invasion. Over 9,000 Palestinians have been killed thus far, along with entire generations of families that fled to Gaza during the Nakba of 1948. And with unbearable grief, we have watched Israel’s horrific killing of over 3,500 children. As Raz Segal, a Jewish scholar of Holocaust and genocide states: “Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza is quite explicit, open, and unashamed.”

Israel and Western powers are making a concerted attempt to extinguish dissent and maintain their faltering control. Across the publishing and media landscape since October 7th, 2023, the reprisals for speaking out have already been severe and extensive. We decry the killing of dozens of journalists in Gaza, including Mohamed Fayez Abu Matar, Saeed al-Taweel, Mohammed Sobh, Hisham Alnwajha, Mohammad Al-Salhi, Mohammad Jarghoun, Ahmed Shehab, Husam Mubarak, Mohammad Balousha, Issam Bhar, Salam Mema, Assaad Shamlakh, Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi, Khalil Abu Aathra, Sameeh Al-Nady, Abdulhadi Habib, Yousef Maher Dawas, and Roshdi Sarraj.

As cultural workers who pay careful attention to words and language, we note that this genocide was inaugurated with Israeli occupation military leaders using words such as “human animal” to justify their attacks on the civilians of Gaza. It is shocking to observe the use of such dehumanizing language from a people who have themselves experienced the same in the context of genocide. We are also reminded of the language of erasure and genocide embedded in the Zionist (and Christian) mythology of “A land without a people for a people without a land,” enacted by colonial Britain’s Balfour Declaration 106 years ago on November 2, 1917.  

These histories of white supremacist, colonial, and capitalist systems of erasure, extraction, and control are reflected in the current moment, even within the rarefied worlds of arts and culture. From the Frankfurt Book Fair/Litprom’s refusal to honour the award given to Palestinian author Adania Shibli (a letter of protest against this was signed by over 1,000 well-known writers), to the cancellation of author readings such Viet Thanh Nguyen at New York’s 92Y, and Mohammed el-Kurd at the University of Vermont, and the recent firing of David Velasco, the editor of Artforum magazine, Western literary and publishing organizations have revealed their deep imbrication in U.S. and Israeli political and economic interests by silencing and punishing writers who speak out for Palestine.  

We condemn the complicity of all those working within corporate and independent publishing who enable or condone such repression through their cowardice, silence, and cooperation with the demands of Israeli occupation and imperialist donors, funders, and governments. We condemn the policing and censorship of writers, the bullying and harassment of bookstore owners and staff, and the intimidation of publishing workers who are in solidarity with Palestinians. Publishing, for us, is the exercise of freedom, cultural expression, and resistance. As publishers we are dedicated to creating spaces for creative and critical Palestinian voices and for all who stand in solidarity against imperialism, Zionism, and settler-colonialism. We defend our right to publish, edit, distribute, share, and debate works that call for Palestinian liberation without recrimination. We know that this is our role in the resistance.

The silencing of Palestinian authors and writers only reinforces a fear of Palestinian literary resistance and contributes to the genocide of Palestinians and land theft. The same fear that is behind the bombs, the demolitions, the abductions, and the torture of Palestinian prisoners, is the fear that holds the Palestinian archives in Israeli control. As the writer Ghassan Kanafani said, “the Palestinian cause is not a cause for Palestinians only, but a cause for every revolutionary.” He reminds us that none of us are free until all of us are free. 

Now is the time to stand with Palestinians and step into a new era of anti-colonial resistance– an era that refuses the Oslo concessions and the normalization of ties with the Zionist state. Now is the time to remember and uphold other historical victories against settler-colonial regimes, such as the resistance that rid Algeria of its French colonizers. Now is the time to intensify our support for Palestinian liberation from Israel and its U.S. and European backers. Now is the time to build solidarity amongst us to collectively refuse intimidation, repression, fear, and violence. 

We call on our comrades, friends, and colleagues across various publishing industries to sign this letter and support the following demands:  

• Stop the genocide and bring an end to all violence against Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank, across historic Palestine, and in the diaspora.
• Hold Israel and its allies accountable for the war crimes they have committed. 
• Assert the demands of Palestinian people to freedom, resistance, and return.
• Uphold the call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israeli apartheid. 
• Assure that Palestinian voices should not be silenced from future international book fairs and literary festivals across the world. Instead, they should be invited as guests of honour to share their stories.
• Commit to making the publishing industry a genuine site of learning and freedom of speech. As publishers we are dedicated to creating spaces for Palestinian voices and those who stand in solidarity against the war machine.

(If you would like to add your name to this statement, please fill out this form.)

Signed: 

1000contra Infoshop, Brazil
404 Ink, UK
A/synechia (Α/συνέχεια), Greece
Acid Horizon, US & UK
Adjunct Press, US
AK Press, US & UK
Àla Books and Authors, Pakistan
Alejandra Mejia, US
Ameena Gafoor Institute, UK
Anarasa, Indonesia
Anti-Racism Daily, US
Antinomi, Indonesia
Apostroph, Catalunya, Spain
Arab Studies Quarterly, US
ArabishWay, US
ArabLit Quarterly and ArabLit Books, Morocco
Arc Poetry Magazine, Canada
ARP Books, Canada
Arsenal Pulp Press, Canada
Art Metropole, Canada
Assembly Press, Canada
Astringent Press, US
auric press, US
Babil Kitap, Turkey
Bamboe Roentjing, Indonesia
Baraka Books, Québec, Canada
Barddas, Cymru/Wales
Basanti Press, India
Bauma editorial/imprenta, Spain
Beautiful Days Press, US
Beehive Books, US
Bell Press, Canada
Bentang Pustaka, Indonesia
Bethlehem University Journal, Palestine
Between the Lines, Canada
Beyond the Pale Books, Ireland
Big black mountain the darkness never ever comes, Greece
Bilal Books, Singapore
Black Freighter Press, US
Black Goddexx press, US
Blaft Publications, India
Book Works, UK
Book*hug Press, Canada
Bookmarks , UK
BPPM Balairung UGM, Indonesia
Briarpatch Magazine, Canada
Broken Sleep Books , UK
Brook , France
Buffalo Berry Press/BlackFlash Magazine, Canada
Buku Fixi, Malaysia
Bulak Neşriyat, Turkey
BULANDU Publisher, Indonesia
Bulut Publishing House, Turkey
Butterfly Books, India
Canadian Dimension, Canada
Capitán Swing Libros, Spain
Carnation Zine, Canada
Cassava Republic Press, Nigeria & UK
Centro Social, Librería y Editorial Proyección, Chile
Cérès Editions, Tunisia
Chaekgalpi Publishing Co., South Korea
Charles H. Kerr Publishing, US
Chintha Publishers, India
Cipher Press, UK
CivicLeicester, UK
Çizgi Kitabevi, Turkey
Comment start IDEA Comment end Book Publishing,​​ South Korea
Common Notions Press, US
Communis Press, US
consonni, Basque Country
ContraEscritura, Spain
CounterPunch, US
Cwmni Cara Cyf, Cymru/Wales
Cyhoeddiadau’r Stamp, Wales
D Editore, Italy
Dahlia Books, UK
Dalam dekapan cinta dan pembebasan, Indonesia
Daraja Press, Canada
Diari Foll, Spain
Divan Kitap, Turkey
Diversity Studies, South Africa
dpr-barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
E Media Publication SB, Malaysia
Écosociété, Québec, Canada & France
Ediciones Akal, Spain
Edicions de la Ela Geminada, Spain
Edicions del 1979, Catalunya
Edisi Mori, Indonesia
Éditions Burn~Août, France
Éditions de la Pleine Lune, Québec, Canada
Éditions de la rue Dorion, Canada
Editions du remue-menage, Québec, Canada
Éditions Hourra, France
Éditions le passager clandestin , France
Éditions Triptyque, Québec, Canada
éditions trouble, France
Editora Faísca , Brazil
Editora Terra sem Amos, Brazil
Editora Trinta Zero Nove, Mozambique
Editorial Imperdible, Spain
Editorial la Felguera, Spain
Editorial Traficantes de Sueños, Spain
El Viejo Topo, Spain
Ellie Anderson, US
En Toutes Lettres, Morocco
Endülüs Yayınları, Turkey
Enggang Media Publisher, Indonesia
Entypois Publications, Greece
Errant Journal, Amsterdam/Berlin
Essay Press, US
Ethel Zine & Micro Press, US
Ethos Books, Singapore
Everybody Press, US
Eye Visuals Pty Ltd, Australia
Eyelevel Artist-Run Centre and Bookstore, Canada
Fahamu Africa, Senegal
Favila Editorial, Colombia
Fernwood Press, US
Fernwood Publishing, Canada
fifth wheel press, US
Flatpack Publications, US
flo. Literary Magazine, Canada
Floarea Indexing, US
Folio Books, Pakistan
Fomite Press, US
Footnote Press, Indonesia
For the Birds Trapped in Airports, US
Foundling Productions, UK
Fox Chapel Publishing, US
frACTalia Press, Romania
Freda Press, Canada
Fundacja Bęc Zmiana, Poland
Game Over Books, US
Gantala Press, Philippines
Gap Riot Press, Canada
Generous Press, US
Ghost Proposal, US
Glacehouse Books LLC, US
Gorse journal, Ireland
Grieveland, US
Groupe Nota bene, Canada
H Publishing, Turkey
Hajar Press, UK
Harpoon Books, US
Hate zine, UK
Haymarket Books, US & UK
Her Stories Foundation , India
HOMEF books, Nigeria
Hors d’atteinte, France
House House Press, Canada
Hungry Zine, Canada
Huud, South Korea
Hyphen, India
Icaria Editorial, Spain
Ignota Books, UK
Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore, Italy
Ilhambookstore, Indonesia
Information & Press services, Egypt
Institute of Policy Studies Press, Pakistan
Intensif Books, Indonesia
Interlink Publishing, US
Interventions, Australia
Intrinsic Coat, US
Invisible Publishing, Canada
IS Editora, Brazil
Islamophobia Journal, US
Jamhoor, Canada
Journal of Global Faultlines, UK
Journal of Indentureship and its Legacies, UK
Kadim Publishing, Turkey
Katarsis, Indonesia
Kawah Buku, Malaysia
Kedai Hitam Putih, Malaysia
Kersplebedeb, Canada
Ketebe Publishing, Turkey
Khaos Publishing, Finland
Kimpa Vita Press & Publishers, Norway
Knight Errant Press, Scotland
Kube Publishing, UK
L’échelle du temple, éditeur, France
La fabrique éditions, France
La Garúa Poesía, Spain
Labirin Buku, Indonesia
Lakeer, Pakistan
Lausan Magazine, US/Hong Kong
Left Book Club, UK
LeftWord Books, India
Les Editions Jimsaan, Sénégal
Les Pages Noires, Canada
Librarie Saint-Henri Books, Canada
Litani Literasi, Indonesia
Litwin Books, US
Livraria Leonardo da Vinci, Brazil
Locked Horn Press, US
Luciole/Playtime Publishers, South Korea
Lux Éditeur, Québec & France
Maa Press, Canada
Magazine Ictus, France
Magic Mongrel Publishers, India
Mahrousa Center for publishing, Information & Press services, Egypt
Makina Books , UK
Maktaba e Danyal, Pakistan
Manifest Llibres, Catalunya, Spain
Marjin Kiri, Indonesia
Mascara Publishing, Australia
Matbuat – İyidüşün Publishing, Turkey
Mati Books, South Korea
Mémoire d’encrier, Québec, Canada
Menino Morreu, Coruña, Galiza
Metatron Press, Canada
Metonymy Press, Canada
Michael Wiegers, US
Microcosm Publishing, US
Midnight Sun Magazine, Canada
Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, Tanzania
Monitor Books, UK
Monthly Review, US
Montréal Serai, Québec, Canada
Mythic Roads Press, Canada
Navayana, India
Noelia Gonzalez Barrancos, Andalusia, Spain
Now Cactus Press, US
O’r Pedwar Gwynt, Cymru/Wales
Octana Books, Greece
On ne compte pas pour du beurre, France
Open Protest Network, UK
OR Books, US
Orciny Press, Spain
Other Press, US
Out-Spoken Press, UK
OWN IT!, UK
Page Not Found, The Netherlands
Panitia Jumaahan, Indonesia
Party Trick Press, Canada
Pasado y Presente, Catalunya, Spain
Peepal Tree Press, UK
Penerbit Anagram, Indonesia
Penerbit Buruan & Co., Indonesia
Penerbit Cerita Kata, Indonesia
Penerbit Partikular, Indonesia
Penerbit Pelangi Sastra, Indonesia
Penerbit Shofia, Indonesia
Penerbit Terang, Indonesia
Penerbit USM (USM Press), Malaysia
Peninsula Press, UK
Perpustakaan Online Genosida 1965-1966, Indonesia
Perspectives on Anarchist Theory, US
Pilot Press, UK
Pinhole Poetry, Canada
Pink Asparagus, Canada
Playwrights Canada Press, Canada
Pluto Journals, Ltd., UK
Pluto Press, UK & US
PM Press, US & UK
Policy Perspectives, Pakistan
Post Fire Books, France
POST Press, Indonesia
Pro You media, Indonesia
Profil Kitap, Turkey
Prometheus Journal, UK
Puan Catra, Indonesia
Pustaka Bahamut, Indonesia
Pustakapedia, Indonesia
qui parle, US
Rachel Parish Editing, US
Rachna Books & Publications, India
Radiant Press, Canada
Radiator Press, US
Radical Books Collective, US
Raven and Rogue, US
RDT_28 INSTITUTE, Indonesia
Renard Press, UK
Renebook, Indonesia
ReOrient , UK
Repeater Books & Zer0 Books, UK
Roam Agency, US
Rollercoaster Press, South Korea
Rotasi Books, Indonesia
Sad Press, UK
Saffron Press, Canada
Sambasivan & Parikh, US
Sampaguita Press, US
Saqi Books, UK
Science Fiction Writers Union of Korea, South Korea
Science for the People, US
Scorched Earth Press, US
Secondthesis, South Korea
Self Group Collective, US
Setu Prakashani, India
Seven Stories Press, US
Shed publishing, France
Sigikata, Indonesia
Silver Press, UK
Sin Permiso, Spain
Sinar Djaman, Indonesia
Skein Press, Ireland
Slingshot Books, Australia
Small Beer Press, US
Sneha Publishers, India
Spectre Journal, US
Spiral Editions, US
Spirit Bound Press , US
State Crime Journal, UK
Strange Region Press, UK
Stree Samya, India
Sublunary Editions, US
Surrey Muse Arts Society, Canada
Suspended Magazine , US
Svara, Malaysia
Swimming
Taba Yensu Press, Canada & Namibia
Taipa Editorial, Brazil
Tajfuny, Poland
Tanah Air Beta, Indonesia
Templando el acero, Spain
Tentang Kita, Malaysia
Textile Magazine, Canada
The 87 Press, UK
The Colleagues’ Publications, Greece
The Devastator, US
The Hobbyhorse, US
The Operating System / Liminal Lab, Lenapehoking
The Patriots, Malaysia
The Polyglot, Canada
The Public Source, Lebanon
The87press, UK
Three Essays Collective, India
Tilted Axis, UK
TIMBER Journal, US
trace press, Canada
Tramp Press, Ireland
Tulika Books, India
Tumbalacasa Ediciones , México
Turos Pustaka, Indonesia
Tutkijaliitto, Finland
TWAIL Review, Colombia
Uitgeverij EPO, Belgium
Umi to Tsuki sha, Japan
Upping the Anti, Canada
Ursus Americanus Press, US
Utu Press, Finland
Varun’s Worklab, India
Verso Books, US and UK
Verso Libros, Catalunya, Spain
Virus Editorial, Spain
Vita Books, Kenya
Vita nuova, Finland
Vulgus Publishing, Turkey
Wasafiri Magazine, UK
Waziz Books, Egypt
Wendy’s Subway, US
Whit Pres, US
Women Unlimited, India
Współbycie, Poland
Yayasan Bentala, Indonesia
Yeditepe Yayınevi, Turkey
Založba /*cf., Slovenia
Zand Press, Nairobi
Zuka Books, Pakistan