By John McAulay
The project aims to give Palestine a voice at a time of growing restrictions across the continent.
In the heart of Barcelona’s vibrant Gràcia neighborhood, shelves lined with novels, political essays and children’s books now fill a space unlike any other in Europe: a bookstore dedicated entirely to Palestine.
Its collection ranges from fiction, poetry and theater to history, art, and even cookbooks covering the conflict. Central to the project is also the promotion of Palestinian voices. “We have both books related to the political situation by international authors, and also books written by Palestinian authors, many of whom have had their voices silenced in recent times,” Olivia Watson, who heads the project, tells The Palestine Chronicle.
However, Finestres Palestina seeks to be more than a bookstore. Alongside a multilingual catalog in Spanish, English, Arabic, French, and Catalan, it plans to host talks, workshops, and cultural events intended to introduce Palestinian culture and history to a wider audience.
An Attack last Summer
Inaugurated on May 15, coinciding with the annual commemoration of the Nakba –when more than 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced during the events surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948–, its founders describe it as the first permanent bookshop in Europe devoted entirely to Palestinian history, culture and literature.
The opening comes at a time when discussions about Palestine have become increasingly contested across the continent, with universities and cultural institutions facing growing political and public pressure over how they address the issue.
In fact, Finestres’ main bookstore, located in the city center, suffered an attack in the summer of 2025 when a man intentionally damaged dozens of books from the store’s Palestine section. What might have been an act of intimidation instead accelerated plans that had already been under discussion for some time. “That attack only made us put even more effort into this project and open this bookstore”, says Watson.
The response from the public has exceeded expectations. “It has been great,” Watson says. “We have had many people come: from the diaspora, from the neighborhood and from the activist community in Barcelona. They are very excited to see this space”.
In these heated times, such a bookstore could easily become a target for criticism from those who oppose its message. So far, however, that has not happened. In fact, Watson argues the store would welcome visitors with different perspectives. “We’d hope that they’d come with an open mind and be willing to learn about the conflict”, she explains.
Barcelona and Spain’s Solidarity
The location of the bookshop has played an important role in its warm reception. Since October 2023, Barcelona — and Spain more broadly — has become one of Europe’s centers of solidarity with Palestine. The city has hosted some of the continent’s largest demonstrations, while several Gaza Freedom Flotilla initiatives have departed from Spanish ports.
At the political level, Spain has been among the most vocal European countries in criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza and was one of the first EU member states to formally recognize the State of Palestine in 2024.
“Gràcia is the heart of a progressive city in a progressive country,” Watson says. She argues that the political climate in the city, and in the whole of Spain, has made the project possible in ways that would be difficult elsewhere in Europe. “You couldn’t open a bookshop like this in Paris or London or Berlin”.
Across the continent, restrictions on pro-Palestinian activism have increased significantly since October 2023, with the censorship of a children’s coloring book in France, the detention of Palestine Action activists in the United Kingdom, and Germany’s particularly contentious debate over public expressions of solidarity with Palestinians.
A Permanent Space for Stories and Debates
The bookstore offers more than the name suggests and aims to create a platform open to discussion about the conflict and broader subjects. Throughout June, it will hold conversations with Palestinian writers Mariam Barghouti and Tareq Baconi, and plans are underway to launch a regular reading group dedicated to Palestinian literature and history.
Even the architecture of the space carries political symbolism. Designed by Palestinian architect Malek Murad Mateu, the bookstore incorporates references to the colors of the Palestinian flag, the keffiyeh, and Mediterranean motifs. On its shutter, a graffiti of a woman holding a key represents the Palestinian right of return.
Finestres Palestina is ultimately an attempt to create a permanent space for stories, perspectives and debates that are often marginalized in the mainstream public discourse. Amid growing polarization, the bookstore is a reminder that literature can offer a different path to understanding.
– John McAulay is a journalist based in Barcelona with an interest in social issues and international conflicts. He contributed this article to The Palestine Chronicle.