In Photos: Gaza’s Famed ‘Samir Mansour Bookshop’ is Back, Months after It was Bombed by Israel

By Mahmoud Ajjour – Gaza

Gaza’s beloved ‘Samir Mansour Bookshop’ is lastly reopened after it was became rubble when Israeli navy strikes hit the five-story constructing, the place the bookshop was based mostly in Could final yr.

The Palestine Chronicle visited the brand new bookshop, the place hundreds of latest books have been fantastically organized on the cabinets, which have been as soon as extra crowded with Gazan readers and writers. 

Quickly after the struggle, I interviewed the store proprietor, Samir Mansour, for The Palestine Chronicle. 

“40 years of my life have been destroyed in a second,” Mansour mentioned whereas clinching tightly on his cigarette. “There are 100,000 books buried underneath this mountain of concrete,” he added. “And for what? Not solely does my library don’t have anything to do with any political celebration or group, I actually would not have any private affiliation with any celebration or group.”

Now, nevertheless, Mansour was in a wholly totally different temper, glad, proud and jubilant. 

“I used to be devastated when the store was destroyed and our associates and family members have boosted my morale. However as we speak I used to be born once more, as we speak is a brand new birthday for me,” he mentioned.

(All Photographs: Mahmoud Ajjour, The Palestine Chronicle)

– Mahmoud Ajjour is a Gaza-based photojournalist. He’s the Palestine Chronicle’s correspondent within the Gaza Strip.