Palestine Book Awards 2025 Longlist Announced in Record-Breaking Year for Palestinian Voices
Literary Community Rallies with 80+ Submissions as Awards Honor Palestinian Narratives Amid Ongoing Crisis
The Palestine Book Awards announced its 2025 longlist of 21 exceptional works on June 20, marking a record-breaking year with over 80 submissions—the largest and most far-reaching edition in the 14-year history of the prestigious literary awards that celebrate Palestinian voices and stories amid what organizers describe as "a horrifying time" of ongoing war and genocide in Gaza and the West Bank.
The annual awards, established in 2012 by the Middle East Monitor and held in London, have emerged as a vital platform for literature that centers on Palestinian history, identity, and resistance. This year's unprecedented number of entries spans fiction, memoir, poetry, academic research, and children's literature, reflecting what organizers call "a deeply rooted, multifaceted commitment to the Palestinian cause across generations and disciplines."
The timing proves particularly significant, as many of the longlisted works were written by authors who experienced the current conflict firsthand, while others were penned by those recently displaced and sharing their lived experiences from exile.
Literary Resistance in Times of Crisis
The 2025 longlist emerges during what the Palestine Book Awards organizers characterize as an especially dark period for Palestinians. According to the official announcement, "This year marks a horrifying time for the people of Palestine—a year scarred by ongoing war and genocide".
Yet the unprecedented response from the literary community tells a different story of resilience and determination. As organizers noted, "in the face of unimaginable suffering, Palestinian writers and scholars—alongside global voices in solidarity—continue to rise. Through literature, research, and storytelling, they affirm an enduring truth: we are here, and we are here to stay".
The record-breaking 80+ submissions represent more than just numbers—they signal a literary movement refusing to be silenced. According to Middle East Monitor, "Despite continued efforts to suppress Palestinian voices, the growing number and range of submissions reflect a clear message: the Palestinian narrative cannot be silenced".
From Academic Studies to Children's Stories
The 2025 longlist showcases the breadth of Palestinian literary expression, with works addressing everything from the Nakba to present-day struggles and future hopes for liberation. The Palestine Book Awards noted that the nominated works "offer vital insight into Palestinian history, identity, struggle, and imagination. Whether addressing the Nakba, the present war and genocide, or future hopes for liberation, these titles contribute to a growing and urgent global conversation".
Among the notable longlisted works are Maya Abu Al-Hayyat's "No One Knows Their Blood Type" and Lina M. Abdulkarim's contributions, representing the diversity of voices and perspectives within Palestinian literature. The longlist also includes children's literature, continuing a trend that saw 2024 mark the first time a children's book was honored with a Palestine Book Award.
Several titles have been published specifically to support humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza, according to Mi'raj News Agency, "reaffirming the role of literature not only as testimony but also as an act of solidarity". This dual purpose—bearing witness while providing tangible support—exemplifies how Palestinian literature serves both artistic and humanitarian functions.
Literature as Solidarity and Witness
The current crisis has added urgency and poignancy to the submissions. According to the Palestine Book Awards, "Some of the books are written by authors enduring the assault firsthand, while others are by those who have recently been displaced and are now sharing their lived experiences from exile".
This firsthand testimony transforms literature into both a historical record and an immediate witness. The Markaz Review noted the power of Palestinian poetry specifically, observing that "Poetry has always served as a mode of resistance in Palestinian culture. In defiance of dispossession and decades of military siege, of a nakba that never ended, of historical and cultural obfuscation, of unrelenting violence and thousands of martyred people, the 'power to narrate,' as Edward Said wrote, remains a necessary tool for self-determination.
Growing International Recognition and Platform
The Palestine Book Awards have steadily grown in stature since their inception in 2012, now attracting "both emerging and established authors whose work affirms the cultural and political significance of Palestine in global discourse," according to Middle East Monitor. The awards serve multiple functions within the literary ecosystem, bringing "Palestinian literature, research work, and poetry to audiences across continents, and give a platform for writers to meet audiences, discuss their work with other writers and academics, and be more widely known and appreciated".
The judging process involves a distinguished panel of seven judges who review entries across three main categories: Academic, Memoir, and Creative. The rigorous selection process ensures that winning works meet high literary standards while advancing understanding of Palestinian experiences and perspectives.
Awards Structure and Recognition Process
The Palestine Book Awards operate on an annual cycle, with nominations opening each January and accepting submissions from publishers and individual authors. The awards typically shortlist six or seven books across their three main categories, with winners announced at a prestigious ceremony in November.
According to the awards' official description, the November events include two components: "an open evening where [shortlisted authors] discuss their books together" and "a dinner evening by invitation where the winners are announced and presented with their prize". The dinner brings together a diverse audience, including "academics, ambassadors, writers, publishers, journalists, Members of Parliament, and frequent visitors to Palestine."
Children's Literature Gains Prominence
The inclusion of children's literature in the 2025 longlist continues a significant trend in Palestinian literary recognition. The 2024 awards marked a historic milestone when Amanda Najib became the first children's book author to win a Palestine Book Award, signaling growing recognition of the importance of Palestinian stories for young readers.
This development aligns with broader efforts to address the underrepresentation of Arab and Palestinian voices in children's literature. According to research cited by Context Corner, "only about 1% of the 3,322 children's books published in the United States in 2024 were by or about Arabs", making platforms like the Palestine Book Awards crucial for elevating these voices.
Academic Contributions and Scholarly Recognition
The academic category within the Palestine Book Awards has consistently recognized groundbreaking scholarship that advances understanding of Palestinian history, politics, and culture. This year's longlist continues that tradition, acknowledging works that contribute to scholarly discourse while remaining accessible to broader audiences.
The academic component of the awards serves a crucial function in legitimizing Palestinian studies as a field of serious scholarly inquiry, providing recognition for researchers whose work might otherwise struggle for mainstream academic acknowledgment.
Digital Age Impact and Global Reach
Social media has amplified the reach and impact of the Palestine Book Awards, with the official Twitter account highlighting individual longlisted works to broader audiences. Recent posts have showcased works like "Cactus Pear for My Beloved: A Family Story from Gaza" by Samah Sabawi, demonstrating how digital platforms extend the influence of awards beyond traditional literary circles.
The digital component has proven especially important during the current crisis, allowing Palestinian voices to reach global audiences despite physical restrictions and ongoing violence in Gaza and the West Bank.
Publishing Industry Response
Publishers have increasingly embraced Palestinian literature, with major houses like Haymarket Books and OR Books prominently featuring Palestine Book Awards recognition in their marketing materials. OR Books specifically highlighted the longlist announcement for "If I Must Die," noting the record-breaking year for submissions.
This publisher engagement suggests growing commercial recognition of Palestinian literature's appeal to readers worldwide, potentially expanding opportunities for Palestinian authors and stories.
Looking Toward November and Beyond
The 2025 shortlist announcement is expected in the coming months, followed by the November ceremony where the winners will be revealed. The panel of seven judges faces the challenging task of selecting from among the 21 longlisted works, each representing different aspects of the Palestinian experience and literary achievement.
Preparations for the 2026 awards cycle are already underway, with organizers announcing that submissions will open early next year for English-language books published between June 2025 and May 2026 that focus on Palestinian themes.
Cultural Significance in Dark Times
As the literary world awaits the shortlist and eventual winners, the 2025 Palestine Book Awards longlist stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling in the face of crisis. The record-breaking submissions demonstrate that even in the darkest circumstances—or perhaps because of them—Palestinian voices continue to rise, creating literature that serves as both an artistic achievement and an act of resistance.
The 21 longlisted works represent more than individual literary accomplishments; they embody a collective refusal to be silenced, a determination to bear witness, and an insistence on the fundamental humanity and dignity of the Palestinian people. In a year marked by unprecedented suffering, these books offer something equally unprecedented: a chorus of voices that, through the power of literature, affirm their continued presence and unshakeable commitment to justice and liberation.