Al-Qalam 
By Al-Qalam Reporter
South African writer and illustrator Nathi Ngubane has expressed his outrage after his children’s colouring book, From the River to the Sea, was seized during a controversial Israeli police raid.
The raid took place at a Palestinian-owned bookstore in East Jerusalem and saw the Israeli officers storm the educational bookshop. The store was one of the most prominent cultural hubs in the area. Police seized books and detained the store’s owners, Mahmoud and Ahmed Muna.
Ngubane’s book, which introduces children to the history and culture of Palestine, was among the items confiscated by authorities. Israeli police claimed his book incited violence and promoted terrorism.
Ngubane, known for his political cartoons and children’s literature, said he was initially taken aback when he first heard about the incident. “I first learned about the raid through a friend of mine via Facebook, and I thought it was fake news. But when I saw it on major news platforms, I reached out to my publisher immediately. It’s deeply concerning to see a children’s book celebrating Palestinian history and culture being presented as something dangerous,” said Ngubane.
The book, published by Social Bandit Media, takes an educational approach to telling the story of Palestine. Through illustrations, Ngubane introduces young readers to the Nakba, the 1948 displacement of Palestinians. The book offers insights into the culture, history, and identity of the Palestinian people.
Ngubane said the interactive activity book is aimed at promoting empathy and understanding, especially among children, but has been criticised by Israeli authorities. CCTV footage from the raid shows police filling black bin bags with books, most written by Palestinian authors.
Ngubane said no legal warrant had been presented at the time of the raid. The charges against the Muna brothers were also later downgraded from incitement to disturbance of public order. “This latest episode adds to a growing list of incidents where Palestinian voices and materials have been suppressed,” said Ngubane.
Ngubane, who has long been an advocate for social justice, sees the targeting of his book as part of a broader effort to silence Palestinian narratives.”Unfortunately, this isn’t new. Last year, we faced backlash in South Africa when the book was criticised by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies. They accused it of calling for the genocide of Jewish people. They couldn’t believe such material was being published in a democratic country, and they demanded that the book be removed from bookstore shelves,” said Ngubane.
The South African Jewish Board’s criticism of From the River to the Sea echoed the Israeli authorities’ stance, both claiming the book promotes hate and violence.
However, Ngubane said the accusations were absurd. He explained that the book is designed to educate readers about the realities of apartheid and the Palestinian struggle for justice. “There is no content in the book that incites hate or violence. It’s a tool for teaching lessons in empathy, justice, and human rights. It’s not about fuelling conflict, it’s about educating people, especially children, about the Palestinian experience and history,” said Ngubane.
Ngubane voiced his frustration with the inconsistent treatment of political figures and cultural expressions. “We have leaders like Donald Trump openly advocating for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, yet that’s met with praise from the Israeli government. But a children’s book, which promotes empathy, is banned and labelled as an act of terrorism? It’s ridiculous,” he said.
He said the raid on the educational bookshop had underscored the fragile nature of propaganda used to dehumanise Palestinians. “It made me realise how fragile the propaganda is that dehumanises Palestinians. When work is done to humanise the Palestinian people, it’s either banned, labelled as anti-Semitic, or people receive threats of violence,” he said.
The reaction to the raid has sparked global support for the bookshop and for Ngubane’s work. Many people rallied outside the bookstore following the arrests to show solidarity with the Muna brothers. Activists, diplomats, and authors have also spoken out in support. Both the German and British ambassadors to Israel posted statements of support, highlighting the international reach of the bookstore’s cultural importance.
Ngubane says he will continue to advocate for the right of Palestinian voices to be heard globally. “Palestinian content and voices deserve to be heard all around the world. Any attempt to silence these voices will only be met with solidarity from those who believe in freedom of expression and human rights,” said Ngubane.
Ngubane says with the help of his publisher, he is working to offer his support to the Muna brothers. “We are reaching out to the bookstore owners personally, hoping to provide comfort and solidarity in the face of an unjust attack on free speech and cultural exchange. Any attempt to silence Palestinian voices will only make us louder,” said Ngubane.
