Gaza Soup Kitchen is a grassroots organization that was established in Beit Lahia, Gaza, to provide food for Palestinians at risk of famine during the Israel-Hamas War.[1][2] Founded in early 2024 by brothers Hani and Mahmoud Almadhoun, Mahmoud coordinated activities on the ground while Hani supported the organization from the United States through online fundraising. In April 2024, they reported serving 3,000 people a day, but as of November, their operations have been severely impacted by the lack of humanitarian aid in Gaza. On November 30, the Gaza Soup Kitchen announced that Mahmoud had been killed in an Israeli drone strike that morning.
| Formation | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Hani Almadhoun, Mahmoud Almadhoun |
| Purpose | To feed Palestinians in Gaza |
| Headquarters | Gaza |
| Website | https://gazasoupkitchen.org/ |
Background
editThe Gaza Soup Kitchen was co-founded by brothers Hani and Mahmoud Almadhoun.[3][4] Hani, the director of philanthropy for UNRWA USA, lives in Virginia, while much of his family lives in Beit Lahia.[2][5] Hani reached out to US officials regarding the lack of food in Gaza but was dissatisfied with their response. He became increasingly concerned in December 2023, after learning that Palestinians like his sister Samah were making bread from animal feed.[2][3][6]
Previously, Mahmoud sold mobile phones, but the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bombed his shop.[7][8] In December 2023, Mahmoud and three other male relatives were detained by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza.[9][10][11] Hani recognized him in photos of blindfolded men held by the IDF. After Hani spoke about Mahmoud's detainment to the US media and on social media, Mahmoud was released.[9] In an op-ed for the The Washington Post, Mahmoud recounted being "stripped to my underwear and paraded with other blindfolded men in the cold like circus animals" and wrote that none of the detained men were militants.[12] He also told PBS that the experience inspired him to help others.[4]
The brothers have lost at least 150 family members in the war, including their brother Majed, his wife, and their four children.[2][13]
Activities
editIn early 2024, the brothers started the Gaza Soup Kitchen.[2] To support their efforts, Hani created a GoFundMe campaign, raising $1 million by July 2024.[2][5] Hani transfers money to the soup kitchen with difficulty due to Gaza's damaged financial infrastructure.[2][5]
Mahmoud, the head chef[4] until he was killed in an Israeli drone strike,[14][15] was assisted by his relatives, including his mother and sister Faten.[16][2] To obtain ingredients, the Gaza Soup Kitchen barters, forages, or purchases food at high cost.[5][12][11] Searching for food in Gaza is dangerous;[11][5] Mahmoud reported being shot at while trying to acquire ingredients.[6][17] Most of the meals are vegetarian and include foods like zucchini, potatoes, lentils, or khubeza.[5][11][6] Due to the lack of fuel, meals are prepared over a wood fire.[6]
On its first day, the soup kitchen fed 150 families, increasing to as many as 3,000 people a day by April 2024.[3][11] Mahmoud told reporters that families come to the soup kitchen in the morning to wait in line for food distribution in the evening.[8][6] For many people, the soup kitchen is their only source of food.[17] In addition to providing food, Hani has noted that the Gaza Soup Kitchen "allows for healing, whether you are preparing food or receiving it, it allows people to imagine hope."[5]
In March 2024, the Gaza Soup Kitchen reported that they were also providing food to the Kamal Adwan Hospital.[18][11][19] The same month, they opened another location in Rafah, run by Hani and Mahmoud's sister, Niveen.[20][6] The kitchen was later closed due to Israel's Rafah offensive.[17]
The Washington Post published an op-ed by Mahmoud in April 2024, in which he wrote that he would feed his neighbors for as long as possible. He stated: "We will keep serving our community, remembering that when all else has failed the Palestinians, the land did not."[12][18]
In September 2024, the Gaza Soup Kitchen opened a school for local children in Beit Lahia. Because many school buildings have been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes or repurposed as refugee camps, the Gaza Soup Kitchen school was located in a commercial building. On the roof, they placed a sign that said: "School. Please Don't Bomb" in Hebrew and English. On November 3, the IDF attacked the building, leaving a hole in the ceiling and destroying the furniture inside.[21]
By November 2024, the Gaza Soup Kitchen was unable to serve many of the families who needed food due to the marked decrease in humanitarian aid and increase in food costs.[1][18]
November 2024 Israeli drone strike
editOn November 30, 2024, the Gaza Soup Kitchen announced that the IDF had killed Mahmoud in a drone strike that morning.[19][18][14] According to Hani, Mahmoud was with his friend Abu Tamer when an IDF drone dropped its payload at his feet, seriously injuring him. When Abu Tamer attempted to take Mahmoud to the hospital, they were shot at. Mahmoud later died in Abu Tamer's shelter.[19] Mahmoud is survived by 7 children, including a newborn and another child injured by an Israeli quadcopter.[18]
Several World Central Kitchen aid workers were also killed by Israel that day.[19]
Reactions
editIn a statement on social media, the Gaza Soup Kitchen wrote that Mahmoud was "targeted and assassinated" and "killed because of his unwavering dedication to solving problems for Kamal Adwan Hospital and ensuring they had whatever they needed."[18] Hani wrote: "You gave everything for the sake of others, and your legacy will not be forgotten."
UNRWA USA and New York City restaurant chain Ayat have also paid tribute to Mahmoud on social media.[19]
See Also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Many in Gaza are eating just once a day, as hunger spreads amid aid issues". AP News. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Peñaloza, Marisa (2024-07-16). "A Palestinian American raises more than $1 million to feed his family and others in Gaza". NPR.
- ^ a b c "Gaza soup kitchen bridges efforts from brothers thousands of miles apart". NBC News. 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ a b c "Gazans struggle with starvation and displacement this Ramadan". PBS News. 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g Bash, Homa (2024-06-12). "Fairfax man raises over $1M to help feed starving families in Gaza". FOX 5 DC. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ a b c d e f Coen, Amrai; Helm, Miguel; Hommerich, Luisa; Ma‘ayeh, Suha; Musharbash, Yassin; Shafy, Samiha; Sieber, Laila; Vu, Vanessa (2024-05-04). "Gaza: Hunger". Die Zeit (in German). ISSN 0044-2070. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ Noor Haq, Sana; Pettersson, Henrik; Schrickel, Yukari; Rigdon, Renée; Wilson, Rachel (2024-10-08). "Flattened in a year: How Israeli bombardment reduced most of Gaza to rubble". CNN. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ a b "Ramadan in Gaza: Palestinians fast amid war, devastation and looming famine". NBC News. 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ a b Natour, Rhana (2023-12-21). "He's raising millions in aid for Gaza. But still he couldn't save his family". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ Raice, Shayndi; Keller-Lynn, Carrie (2023-12-10). "Israel Detains Hundreds of Palestinian Men in Search for Hamas". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-12-14.
- ^ a b c d e f Ayomari (2024-03-21). "Man Opens Soup Kitchen In Gaza To Help Displaced Palestinians". FoodBeast. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ a b c Almadhoun, Mahmoud (2024-04-03). "Our northern Gaza family will feed our neighbors — until we can't". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2024-04-04.
- ^ Almadhoun, Hani (2023-12-02). "Opinion: In Gaza, my 71-year-old mom watches over the rubble encasing her family". CNN. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ a b Rowlands, Lyndal; Rasheed, Zaheena (2024-12-01). "Israel kills 100 in Gaza, including four aid workers, as truce talks resume". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ Belloso, Paola (2024-11-30). "World Central Kitchen workers killed by Israeli airstrike in Gaza, organization says". DC News Now. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ Belloso, Paola (2024-03-19). "Northern Virginia man raising money for family's soup kitchen in north Gaza". DC News Now. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ a b c "These Brothers Are Fighting Famine As Israel Starves Palestinians in Gaza". AJ+. 2024-05-27 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e f Alam, Anam (2024-12-01). "Israel 'deliberately kills' Gaza chef who fed the displaced". New Arab.
- ^ a b c d e Schrader, Adam (2024-12-01). "Palestinian chef behind Gaza Soup Kitchen slain in Israeli strike". UPI. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ Tapper, Malaika Kanaaneh; Jalabi, Raya (2024-04-10). "Eid in Gaza: 'The only thing to celebrate is that we're still alive'". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2024-04-10. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ Hasson, Nir (2024-11-27). "Within a Month, the Israeli Army Has Destroyed What Remained of Gaza's Education System". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2024-11-27.