Palestine Book Awards 2025: Record entries defy silencing of voices
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The 2025 Palestine Book Awards closed with over 80 entries, showcasing powerful literary voices, many shaped by ongoing violence and exile.
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Over 80 books have been entered as the PBA enters its 14th year (X photo)
The Palestine Book Awards (PBA) has officially closed submissions for its 2025 cycle, marking another successful year with over 80 books submitted. Now in its 14th year, the Awards continue to grow in significance, providing a crucial platform for literature focused on Palestinian history, identity, and resistance.
This year’s submissions arrive amid "Israel’s" ongoing aggression on Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Some of the authors are directly experiencing the violence, while others, newly displaced, are sharing their stories from exile, the Middle East Monitor reported.
A number of the submitted works have been published in support of humanitarian aid for Gaza, highlighting literature’s role not just as testimony, but also as an act of solidarity.
Palestinian story not to be erased
Despite ongoing attempts to silence Palestinian voices, the increasing volume and diversity of submissions send a powerful message: the Palestinian story will not be erased. Since their launch, the Awards have drawn both emerging and established writers whose work reinforces Palestine’s cultural and political relevance on the global stage.
A panel of seven distinguished judges will now begin reviewing the entries. The shortlist will be announced in the coming months, with winners revealed at the annual ceremony in November 2025. Readers can stay informed by following updates on the official PBA website.
Submissions for the 2026 Palestine Book Awards will open early next year, welcoming English-language books published between June 2025 and May 2026 that center on Palestine.
