US-backed book fair hosted Holocaust denial and Hamas leader’s works

The 11th International Arab Book Fair opened in Istanbul last weekend under the sponsorship of the US embassy in Turkey, despite the event featuring the distribution of Holocaust denial materials and publications by Yahya Sinwar, the late Hamas leader. The American diplomatic presence at the fair raises questions about the vetting of content at an event receiving official US backing. Sinwar, who was killed in Gaza in October 2024, was long considered one of the most influential figures in the Palestinian militant organization. The book fair’s inclusion of his writings alongside Holocaust denial literature has drawn criticism from observers concerned about the messaging being amplified at an internationally-attended cultural event. The US embassy’s decision to sponsor the fair without apparently restricting such materials represents a significant diplomatic oversight, particularly given America’s historical commitment to Holocaust remembrance and its stated opposition to antisemitic content. Officials have not yet publicly commented on why such materials were permitted at a US-sponsored event.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.