diff --git a/scripts/publish.sh b/scripts/publish.sh
index 4846d7f..c99c5e8 100755
--- a/scripts/publish.sh
+++ b/scripts/publish.sh
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@ if [ "$#" -ne 2 ]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
-# Debugging: Print commands as they are executed
-set -x
-
 # Capture SOURCE_DIR and DEST_DIR from arguments
 SOURCE_DIR="$1"
 DEST_DIR="$2"
@@ -36,30 +33,40 @@ find -L "$SOURCE_DIR" -type f -name "*.md" -exec grep -q "publish: true" {} \; -
     dest_dir=$(dirname "$dest_path")
     mkdir -p "$dest_dir"
 
-    # Copy the Markdown file
-    cp -p "$markdown_file" "$dest_path"
-    echo "Copied $markdown_file to $dest_path" >> "$LOG_FILE"
+    # Check if the destination file already exists
+    if [ -f "$dest_path" ]; then
+        echo "Skipped $markdown_file as it already exists in $dest_path" >> "$LOG_FILE"
+    else
+        # Copy the Markdown file
+        cp -p "$markdown_file" "$dest_path"
+        echo "Copied $markdown_file to $dest_path" >> "$LOG_FILE"
 
-    # Extract and copy referenced images
-    grep -o '\!\[\[.*\]\]' "$markdown_file" | sed 's/\!\[\[\(.*\)\]\]/\1/' | while IFS= read -r image_ref; do
-        # Check if image_ref is a relative path
-        if [[ ! "$image_ref" =~ ^/ ]]; then
-            image_ref="$SOURCE_DIR/$image_ref"
-        fi
-        
-        # Try to find the image recursively within SOURCE_DIR
-        image_path=$(find -L "$SOURCE_DIR" -type f -name "$(basename "$image_ref")" -print -quit)
-        
-        # Debugging: Print image_path
-        echo "Checking image_path: $image_path" >> "$LOG_FILE"
-        
-        if [ -f "$image_path" ]; then
-            cp "$image_path" "$IMAGE_DIR/"
-            echo "Copied image $image_ref to $IMAGE_DIR/" >> "$LOG_FILE"
-        else
-            echo "Image reference $image_ref in $markdown_file does not exist." >> "$LOG_FILE"
-        fi
-    done
+        # Extract and copy referenced images
+        grep -o '\!\[\[.*\]\]' "$markdown_file" | sed 's/\!\[\[\(.*\)\]\]/\1/' | while IFS= read -r image_ref; do
+            # Check if image_ref is a relative path
+            if [[ ! "$image_ref" =~ ^/ ]]; then
+                image_ref="$SOURCE_DIR/$image_ref"
+            fi
+            
+            # Try to find the image recursively within SOURCE_DIR
+            image_path=$(find -L "$SOURCE_DIR" -type f -name "$(basename "$image_ref")" -print -quit)
+            
+            # Debugging: Print image_path
+            echo "Checking image_path: $image_path" >> "$LOG_FILE"
+            
+            if [ -f "$image_path" ]; then
+                # Check if the image already exists in IMAGE_DIR
+                if [ ! -f "$IMAGE_DIR/$(basename "$image_ref")" ]; then
+                    cp "$image_path" "$IMAGE_DIR/"
+                    echo "Copied image $image_ref to $IMAGE_DIR/" >> "$LOG_FILE"
+                else
+                    echo "Skipped copying image $image_ref as it already exists in $IMAGE_DIR/" >> "$LOG_FILE"
+                fi
+            else
+                echo "Image reference $image_ref in $markdown_file does not exist." >> "$LOG_FILE"
+            fi
+        done
+    fi
 done
 
 # Print the log file