#GazaSoupKitchen Update on July 15, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Dearest allies,

Please know I’ve missed you these last three weeks as I was on the move again. From Boston to San Francisco, from Minneapolis to Sandy, Utah — we talked about #Gaza and the difference we can make in Gaza and for Gaza.

I thought to finally send you an update — long overdue.

#GazaSoupKitchen Update: The Sugar is $100, But Our Spirits Are Free

Dear friends, supporters, and fellow believers in the power of food and love,

We’re back with a dispatch from the heart of the chaos — Gaza. Where prices fluctuate faster than Bitcoin and the “sugar market” is apparently hotter than Wall Street.

True story: sugar in Gaza now costs $100 per kilo. A kilo of flour? That humble pantry staple you can buy in the U.S. for under a dollar? Here, it’s $20.

So how do we keep going?

We invented dynamic budgeting. No joke. Every kitchen’s daily budget shifts based on the price of lentils, pasta, flour, and oil. It’s like running a commodities exchange — but instead of investors, we have uncles with ladles and kids with empty plates. And somehow, we make it work.

We’re now operating 10.5 kitchens (yes, the half counts — it’s part-time but full of heart). These kitchens serve meals daily without fail. Our crew is now 60 strong, with most locations run by a team of six working around the clock, often with little sleep but lots of resolve.

We're also delivering clean water. And our “flexible food” initiative keeps rolling — think falafel wraps one day, fresh mulukhiya leaves the next, and even slushies for the kids. Sweetened not with sugar, but with cough syrup — because cough medicine is one of the few things that still has sugar. That’s where we are now.

Our classroom still runs three times a week, led by our amazing niece Fatema, bringing some structure, joy, and snacks to kids who deserve better than war.

Our medical point is treating up to 85 patients a day, and we send meals to the hospital daily. A warm plate of food might not fix everything, but it can give a parent or child just enough strength to hold on.

But behind every slushie, every lentil pot, there’s pain.

Yesterday, I lost my friend Murad and his entire family. Their tent was bombed. Murad and I went to elementary and middle school together. He was one of the smart kids — we competed for grades. He had a future, a wife, children. Now, nothing. Another bright light extinguished in a place full of ghosts.

And there’s another story that won’t leave me — a Palestinian woman sprinting through the camp in a panic, trying to find a spoonful of sugar for her husband who had slipped into a diabetic coma. She knocked on every tent. Nothing — no dates, no candy, no halva. She returned after 15 minutes to find him gone. He didn’t die from a bomb. He died from the blockade. From cruelty masked as policy.

Now people sweeten tea with canned pineapple syrup. That’s what survival looks like.

Still — we go on. Most of our operations focus on the west of Gaza, where nearly a million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. And we continue to show up. Even when the fire under the stove isn’t just metaphorical.

We’re hearing that more aid may enter Gaza by Thursday. If it does, prices could drop — even if just a little. That’s what hope looks like now: praying sugar costs less than gold.

We’re also speaking out — engaging the media, pushing back against disinformation, and confronting bad actors like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. We will not rest until the people responsible for this suffering are held accountable.

We’ve never stopped. Not for a day. Not when we were displaced. Not when flour disappeared. Not when the skies rumbled.

---

And now, a call to action — from one human to another:

If you have the capacity to give, please consider sending a gift. No amount is too small when you're being starved. Your generosity helps us keep cooking, keep serving, and keep hope alive — one meal at a time.

Thank you for taking action for Gaza. And thank you for standing with us — and with organizations like #UNRWA, who continue to do critical, life-saving work in Gaza while under constant attack.

Your love and care are felt here every single day.

With sorrow, hope, and slushies made of cough syrup,

The Gaza Soup Kitchen Team

---

P.S. If you received an email from GoFundMe showing an incorrect donation amount, please know there's a glitch in their system and we’re working to fix it. Thank you for your patience — and for staying engaged."

Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily

#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal

#GazaSoupKitchen Update on June 26, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Dear friends and allies,

I owe you an update from the Gaza Soup Kitchen. But first—thank you. Thank you for being here, for pouring your heart into this with us and for us. None of this happens without you.

Yesterday, I thought we had good news. For once, it seemed the aid trucks made it safely to the right organizations, thanks to a remarkable effort by #Palestinian families who stepped up to protect the convoys from looters and opportunists.

But this morning, the #FarRight #Israeli government announced it would block #aid again—claiming that aid reaching civilians somehow “helps militants.” Do you see how absurd this is? When aid flows in an orderly way, it reduces Palestinian suffering—and that undermines Israel’s cruel objective of using #starvation and chaos as tools of war.

Make no mistake: Israel thrives on the images of desperate people fighting over scraps. Some looters are simply desperate; others, emboldened by Israel, have been weaponized to disrupt aid, drive up prices, and deepen the misery.

So what does this mean for us? For starters, we’re finalizing plans to open our tenth kitchen. Yes—ten. Our operations have doubled since March because the need has doubled. Other aid actors have shut down, paused, or couldn’t figure out how to operate under siege. But we didn’t stop. We won’t.

And please—direct your frustration where it belongs: at #Israel, not the aid organizations. Groups like #UNRWA are still on the ground, delivering healthcare, education, and water under impossible conditions.

Prices in #Gaza are unpredictable. One day we can afford staples, and the next day, the prices skyrocket. Vendors are charging as much as 40% in transfer fees because cash is so scarce. It’s supply, demand, and unfortunately, a bit of gouging—capitalism under siege.

Our team has been cooking dishes we haven’t made in months. Just recently, we served Romanya and Damsat Adas (lentil stew). We’re also rotating lentil stews, white bean stews, and—when we can source enough—rice-based meals to feed entire neighborhoods.

People know to find us in Al-Sheikh Radwan, Al-Shati (Beach Camp), Al-Nasr, and Al-Rimal. Our northernmost spot is Al-Saftaway, and our westernmost is literally on the Gaza pier—cooking right on the dock.

Beyond food, our water trucks are out every single morning, delivering clean drinking water to shelters and neighborhoods. We maintain a steady presence in Nuseirat with both water and a pop-up kitchen there. That location runs with the help of a trusted partner team since we don’t have a full-time crew based there.

Our medical point stays busy—serving an average of 80 patients a day. Primary care, dental work, physical therapy, wound care, and a small but vital pharmacy we stock regularly. Nurses are changing dressings, soothing pain, and holding it down in ways few ever see.

We also continue delivering hot meals daily to two of Gaza’s still-functioning hospitals. For the past six weeks, these meals have been a plate or container of baked pies and pizzas—warm, filling, and made with dignity. Because even patients and exhausted medical staff deserve a meal that feels like home, not just survival.

Meanwhile, our flexible initiatives continue—small but mighty. Just yesterday, we handed out new clothes to over three dozen children sheltering in a school. This is led by Chef Mahmoud’s widow, Ms. Alaa, alongside my mother. A few days ago, the same crew prepared falafel wraps, produce packs, and molokhia leaves for families in need.

And Ms. Fatma—God bless her—is back in her classroom, teaching the little ones their ABCs. Her class has 20 bright-eyed students, eager to learn, to grow, and to hold onto some sense of childhood. The stories coming out of that tent classroom are both heartbreaking and profoundly beautiful.

Now, I know this sounds like the cliché part, but hear me when I say it—this only works because of you.

You keep the Gaza Soup Kitchen running. You keep the lights on. You placed your trust in us—our team, our stories, and our stubborn belief that even in the darkest moments, we can deliver hope with a bowl of soup, a bag of rice, a clean drink of water, or a fresh-baked pie.

When deep-pocketed organizations shut down in Gaza during the hour of greatest need—we stayed open. And not just open—we doubled our locations.

Please keep walking this path with us. Share our stories. Tag us. Mention us in your gatherings, your prayers, your summer events—even if it’s as simple as a lemonade stand. (And shout out to the kids who’ve done just that—you are giants among us.)

And to the #Jewish souls who are fasting for Gaza right now—thank you. Thank you for refusing to let a vile, right-wing government weaponize your grief. Your humanity shines.

In sumud,
Hani"

Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily

#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal

#GazaSoupKitchen Update on May 26, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

#Gaza Soup Kitchen Update — Still Cooking, Still Standing

"Dear friends and heroes,

"Salam, Shalom, Hola, Hi, and Marhaba —

"All seven of our Gaza Soup Kitchens are still cooking. That alone is a miracle. It takes extraordinary grit, resilience, and heart to keep these fires going as food becomes even scarcer. The markets haven’t changed much — maybe a bit of flour trickling in, mostly for bakeries — but that's it. There’s still no sign of variety or abundance. And yes, some of that flour has been looted. Not out of greed, but out of raw desperation — families trying to survive.

"The best answer isn’t more policing. It’s more food. Flood Gaza with aid. Make a bag of flour cost $5 again — not $200. That’s the real path to dignity and stability.

"To put it in perspective: if the borders had stayed open, 46,000 trucks of aid could have made it in. Right now? We’re barely seeing 500 trucks per week. That’s not enough to feed Gaza for even seven days.

"The good news is that #UNRWA and the UN aid clusters are doing what they can. While Israel has yet to authorize direct flour distributions to families, we are hopeful that permission will come soon. Until then, we do what we’ve always done: cook, deliver, and show up.

"We’ve had to relocate five of our kitchens recently — moving southward as people flee bombardment and destruction in the north. Our current locations:

- Three kitchens in Al-Sheikh Radwan
- Two in Beach Camp
- One in the heart of Gaza City, on the edge of what was once the vibrant, prosperous Rimal neighborhood — now reduced to rubble and relying on food relief.
- And the flour power team of bakers are still working every day to deliver for the two hospitals

"The need remains overwhelming. But if aid boxes begin reaching families directly, we may finally see fewer people lining up in hunger. Fewer scuffles over bread. Fewer kids going to sleep with empty stomachs.

"We’re still delivering water — fewer trucks now (maybe eight a day instead of ten), but we’re pushing forward. Our medical point is also in the process of relocating, as its former location has become too dangerous. Reports of Israeli drones targeting nearby homes forced us to move for the safety of the team and those seeking care.

"And in case you missed it — the so-called #GazaHumanitarianFoundation has collapsed. This wasn’t a charity — it was a PR stunt. A cynical attempt to control #Palestinians by using food as leverage. I’ve been vocal about it online, and I encourage you to read and share. Humanitarian aid should never come in armored vehicles.

"To those fasting for Gaza — thank you. Your solidarity fills more than just stomachs. It lifts hearts. It reminds people they’re not forgotten.

"Over the past few days, I’ve had the chance to speak out for Gaza on CNN, BBC, and the IMEU podcast. I had to make the hard call to cancel my trip to Sarajevo — six days away felt like too much at this critical time. Instead, I went to Sarasota and Tampa, met with wonderful donors, and gave a few talks that I hope helped connect hearts to Gaza’s struggle.

"Thank you for being with us. Thank you for staying focused. Let’s keep pushing — for aid, for #justice, and for life.

"Let’s leave distractions and divisive theories at the door. This isn’t a moment for ego or infighting. This is about survival. About Gaza. About humanity.

"With love, resilience, and resolve,
Hani

"P.S. If you're in DC, I hope to see you at the Gaza 5K this Saturday. And if not, maybe I’ll catch you during the UNRWA USA Tour in late June — we’re scheduled to be in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis, and San Francisco. Let’s connect. Let’s keep showing up."

Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily

#NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal