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#BaitLahiya

✨ Update from Gaza Soup Kitchen ✨

November 3, 2025, by Gaza Soup Kitchen, Beneficiary

"Hello, and welcome — you have been missed. I hope you’ve been well. Let’s dive into an update and share a snapshot of the #GazaSoupKitchen’s work in Gaza.

We currently operate six kitchens serving the public — two in #KhanYounes, and four in the stretch between #AlZawaydah and #DeirElBalah. Additionally, we have a dedicated location in the #AlNaser neighborhood of Gaza City that prepares meals for hospitals.

Our work is supported by three mobile teams, each with a specific mission:

The first team visits hospitals, delivering fresh produce, care packages, clothing, and sometimes baby formula and diapers for newborns.

The second team goes directly into makeshift camps, showing up with whatever they can source — whether food or clothing — to meet the immediate needs of families living in extreme conditions.

The third team serves dinner at #AlShifaHospital, bringing baked goods and meals for about 100 patients every day.

Recently, we pivoted to blanket distribution. So far, we’ve distributed 200 blankets, with 300 more on hand, and our goal is to source at least 1,000 this month, getting them directly to families. Alongside blankets, we’ve added hygiene kits to support families’ basic needs.

Two days ago, we opened registration for families in need of food parcels, and we’ve already signed up 15,700 families across Gaza. Our goal is to distribute these within two and a half weeks. Each food parcel costs around $27, which covers staples; prices fluctuate between $60 and $179 depending on availability, making it especially challenging for families with no resources — which, unfortunately, is the case for most.

This is a massive effort, requiring a dedicated and resilient team. To enhance registration and distribution, we expanded the pickup locations from three to six, covering areas from #Rafah (#Mawasy) to the north of #GazaCity, with deliveries starting tomorrow. A guiding principle for us is simple: every dollar goes directly to helping people in Gaza. We don’t let bank accounts dictate our work; we tackle urgent needs head-on, and we’ve been incredibly fortunate to have your support.

Beyond food, we continue to run our classroom with Ms. Fatema, bringing children back to learning and growth. We also added a Play Therapy program, held every other day, helping 25 children engage in play, snacks, singing, and moments of pure childhood joy — something they desperately need to feel safe and free again.

On a broader note, I recently spoke in Philadelphia to a group of elderly Jewish citizens, a deeply humane and uplifting experience. Unlike my usual audiences of younger activists, this mature audience engaged with sincerity and care, reminding me how dialogue across generations and communities can be meaningful and inspiring.

On a personal level, expanding our work comes with emotional weight. Every week, thousands of families write to us asking for help. When they don’t hear back immediately, frustration turns into anger and, sometimes, insults. I understand their pain deeply, but processing it adds an extra layer of grief. And yet, we keep pressing forward, because the fire to serve and protect the vulnerable never goes out.

Thank you for being here and standing with us. Many have stepped away during the recent ceasefire, taking a chance to rest, but for us, the work cannot pause. Families remain hesitant to return to their homes in #BaitLahia, where the streets feel eerie and unsafe. Violence continues to flare from Israeli forces and some of their proxies who still appear in the area. The trauma lingers, the fear is real, and yet the people of Gaza persist.

It is far from over — and that’s why we keep showing up, delivering food, blankets, care, and hope. Together, we light a small beacon in the midst of unimaginable darkness.

P. S. We remain active in delivering clean drinking water trucks to different communities. We average eight to ten trucks daily."

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

✨ Update from Gaza Soup Kitchen ✨

October 7th, 2025 by Hani Almadhoun, Organizer

"Dear friends,

The past two months have been intense — conference season, media engagements, live on ABC Prime News (link below), and a conversation with The New Arab. Through it all, Gaza has been front and center. I want to give you a clear look at what your support is making possible — and the scale of what remains to be done.

Gaza City:
Roughly 200,000 people are trapped in Gaza City, facing an unknown future. Every day, our teams push into neighborhoods that are cut off, even attempting water deliveries in extreme conditions. We advise them, we worry, but they refuse to leave — this is their home, and they have nothing left elsewhere. For their safety and the community’s, we keep their identities and locations secret, yet still ensure aid reaches those who need it most.

Kitchens & Meals:
Across eight kitchens in the middle and south of Gaza, we are cooking eggplants, potatoes, traditional dishes, and pasta, serving hundreds of families daily. One kitchen alone reaches 500 families, and our teams keep pushing for extra water deliveries wherever possible. Prices are cooling slightly in the south, but in Gaza City, food costs are skyrocketing, and supplies are vanishing. We don’t pause — we keep delivering.

Food Parcels & Care Packages:
Since our last update, we’ve delivered 25,000+ food parcels and care packages. Last month alone, your generosity put over $500,000 directly into Gaza to feed families, support hospitals, and sustain life under siege.

We operate two flexible initiative teams:

1. Hospital Care Team: Prioritizing children suffering from acute malnutrition at Al-Aqsa Hospital.

2. Makeshift Community Team: Led by my mom and Alaa (Chef Mahmoud’s widow), delivering 30–50 care packages at a time to displaced families in makeshift communities — sometimes food, sometimes hygiene kits, always based on urgent need.

Transparency & Accountability:
We’ve been experimenting with open registration for food parcels in Gaza City. When we offered a link for 75 families, 233 families signed up in under two minutes, leaving many temporarily without aid. We publish exactly what’s in each parcel and the prices we pay, so the community sees every action we take. Your donations fuel this transparency, safety, and reach.

Bottom line: Supplies are tight. Prices are climbing. Access is dangerous. But your support keeps food on tables, water in homes, and care packages in hands. You’re keeping hope alive in a place where hope is under constant attack. May this genocide come to an end soon.

Thank you for standing with Gaza — for standing with the people who have nothing left but each other."

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

ABC news reel:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPhuNiaDoY-/?igsh=MXRoaXVteHNvOHRqbA==

✨ Update from Gaza Soup Kitchen ✨

September 4th, 2025 by Hani Almadhoun, Organizer

"Hi friends,

If you are new here, welcome! My name is Hani, co-founder of the Gaza Soup Kitchen. For those regulars, thank you ✊

Right now we have 7 kitchens running in and around Gaza City , 5 water trucks delivering fresh water every morning , and our health clinic is still seeing patients .

Sadly, our classroom was bombed —but we’ve pivoted to something bigger:

✅ Delivered 4,250 food parcels so far

Another 2,550 parcels ready to go

In the middle area, we delivered 600 parcels and opened a new kitchen

We keep showing up for hospitals with meals

Each food parcel = 40–60 meals. It’s not just about helping one family—it feeds whole networks of relatives, neighbors, and displaced people.

In doing this, we’re also showing the world (and the bad actors watching us) that you can give away a lot of food in Gaza without harming Palestinians. Our signage makes that crystal clear.

One moving moment: we’ve been operating from inside an Orthodox and Catholic church (اتحاد الكنائس ) . Families shelter there, and they benefit from the food too. Our young team—many who had never met a Christian before—are learning about unity and friendship in real time. Feeding people from a church feels like something Jesus himself would have blessed.

We hear the drones above us, and we know they don’t like what we’re doing. But we’ll keep feeding as long as we’re allowed.

Our system works: families sign up on a link , we close it when full, assemble the food, and text pickup times. No chaos, no exploitation—just neighbors helping neighbors. Each distribution serves 500–1,000 people with dignity.

You give us confidence , even as we worry for our team’s safety every single day. I am tired of asking for prayers… but somehow it’s still comforting to do so.

Thank you for being with us. Together, we are saving lives, it's not a slogan it's our daily reality.

—Hani & the Gaza Soup Kitchen Team"

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

#GazaSoupKitchen Update on July 23, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Right now, in #Gaza:

Over 90% of the population faces acute food insecurity

Real children—not statistics—are giving up. Their bodies are shutting down from hunger, and they don’t even know it’s not normal

#Famine isn’t a theory—it’s not in some academic journal. It’s in the streets, in the shelters, in the makeshift tents

Parents are skipping meals so their kids can eat

People are walking 2, 5, 8 miles on foot just for a single scoop of lentils

Many collapse from hunger before ever reaching our kitchens

A doctor told us this week:

> “We’re seeing fewer patients. Not because they’re healing—because they don’t have the strength to walk here.”

Let that sink in.

We operate 11 kitchens across Gaza.
Today, only 5 are functional.
Some are running at just 70% capacity, because food is nearly impossible to find.

We rotate, we stretch, we improvise—just to survive.

Still, our team doesn’t give up. Not now. Not ever.

They source food in a war zone.
They call every contact from 40 years of work in Gaza—
Farmers with hidden plots. Vendors who stash away grains.
Friends who whisper: “Try this alley… there might be rice.”
Every bag of lentils is a mission.
Every scoop of soup is a triumph.

Even grapes became a precious offering this week.
Not because we’re living in luxury—
But because flour wasn’t available, and grapes were.
And because a farmer who dares to grow under war deserves our support.
So we bought the grapes. And we gave them away.
To families who haven’t tasted fruit in months.

Some moments break us.

Like when a child tells us they haven’t eaten in three days—
And still doesn’t make it to the front of the line.

Like when we have to stop delivering meals to hospitals—
Because we couldn’t source enough flour.
Even though doctors are starving.
Even though they’re surrounded by death 24/7.
And even though the lies about them cut deeper than any wound.

But some moments lift us.

Like the way you showed up.
With your donations. Your kindness. Your belief.
That maybe, just maybe, this world can be less cruel if we insist on love.

We want to be honest with you:

➡️ Do we need money today? No.
➡️ Will we need it next week? Maybe not.
➡️ But next month? Without a doubt.

Because every single day is a test of how long we can hold the line.

We want to be Gaza’s last light.
Not flickering in the dark—
But standing tall.

And with your help, we can.

Yes, there are other heartfelt efforts happening across Gaza. We honor them.
But at this scale—11 kitchens, 60+ brave staff, thousands of meals—there is no one doing it quite like this.

Please remember:
You are part of this.
This is your compassion.
Your love.
Your impact—served warm in bowls that nourish not just stomachs, but souls.

With full hearts, tired hands, and unshakable hope,
—The Gaza Soup Kitchen Team"

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

via @mason

Repost from #HaniAlmadhoun, Senior Director of Philanthropy at #UNRWA, on LinkedIn:

"⚠️⚠️My dad shared this story with me today, and I haven’t been able to shake it.

A woman in one of the makeshift camps was seen running from tent to tent, frantic and out of breath. Her husband had slipped into a diabetic coma. She knew what he needed — just something sweet — a spoonful of sugar, a bite of halva, anything. But the war has emptied even the smallest comforts from Gaza’s cupboards.

No one had sugar. No halva. No dates. Nothing.

Even if someone did have sugar, it now costs nearly five dollars a spoonful — a price no one in that camp could afford. Not for a dying man. Not even for a child.

She returned to her tent empty-handed.

Her husband — a man in his late fifties — was gone.

Just like that.

Not from a missile or a bullet. But from something entirely treatable — if only they hadn’t starved Gaza of everything.

Who is responsible for this death?

Israel is.

And here's the grim reality behind the slushies we handed out to children three days ago: they were sweetened with cough syrup. Because that’s the only sugar we could find. A kilo of sugar now costs $100. People are draining the syrup from canned pineapples just to sweeten their tea.

This is what it means to be under blockade and siege — where even sugar is out of reach, and dying from a diabetic coma becomes part of daily life."

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hanifundraiser_my-dad-shared-this-story-with-me-today-activity-7350628795113971712-Mkf6

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

#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

#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

#Israeli gunfire heard as #Palestinians crowd aid center in #Gaza

By Mohammed Jahjouh, May 27, 2025

MUWASI, Gaza Strip (AP) — "Chaos erupted on the second day of aid operations by a new U.S.-backed group in Gaza as desperate Palestinians overwhelmed a center distributing food on Tuesday, breaking through fences. Nearby Israeli troops fired warning shots, sending people fleeing in panic.

"An #APJournalist heard Israeli tank and gunfire and saw a military helicopter firing flares. The Israeli military said its troops fired the warning shots in the area outside the center and that 'control over the situation was established.'

"At least three injured Palestinians were seen by The Associated Press being brought from the scene, one of them bleeding from his leg.

"The distribution hub outside Gaza’s southernmost city of #Rafah had been opened the day before by the #GazaHumanitarianFoundation, which has been slated by Israel to take over aid operations. The U.N. and other humanitarian organizations have rejected the new system, saying it won’t be able to meet the needs of Gaza’s 2.3 million people and allows Israel to use food as a weapon to control the population. They have also warned of the risk of friction between Israeli troops and people seeking supplies."

Read more:
https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-tank-fire-807f54962c1315d5eaa589bcfb91fe06

#NorthGaza #GazaAid #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
#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

54 people killed in overnight airstrikes on southern #Gaza city, hospital says

By MOHAMMAD JAHJOUH and TIA GOLDENBERG
Updated 8:23 AM EDT, May 15, 2025

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — "Multiple airstrikes hit Gaza’s southern city of #KhanYounis overnight into Thursday, killing more than 50 people in a second consecutive night of heavy bombing, while another airstrike in the north of the #Palestinian territory left more than a dozen people dead, authorities said.

"The strikes come as U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East, visiting Gulf states but not Israel. There had been widespread hope that Trump’s regional visit could usher in a ceasefire deal or renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza. An Israeli blockade of the territory is now in its third month.

"An Associated Press cameraman in Khan Younis counted 10 airstrikes on the city overnight into Thursday, and saw numerous bodies taken to the morgue in the city’s Nasser Hospital. It took time to identify some of the bodies due to the extent of their injuries. The hospital’s morgue confirmed 54 people had been killed.

"The dead included a #journalist working for Qatari television network Al Araby TV, the network announced on social media, saying Hasan Samour had been killed along with 11 members of his family in one of the strikes in Khan Younis.

"The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the strikes.

"It was the second night of heavy bombing, after airstrikes Wednesday on northern and southern Gaza killed at least 70 people, including almost two dozen children.

"Another strike in #Jabaliya in northern Gaza hit a complex including a mosque and a small medical clinic, killing 13 people, said the Civil Defense, a first responder agency operating under Gaza’s Hamas-run government."

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

#GazaSoupKitchen Update on May 14, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Overnight, #Israeli airstrikes killed at least 42 #Palestinians, bombing near #ChefFaten’s neighborhood. It shook us all—not just because we feared for her safety, but because we know and love so many in that community. Our grief is constant, our worry never-ending.

"On the ground, our seven soup kitchens continue to operate daily. But the situation is worse than ever. Food costs more, availability is scarce, and the number of people relying on us continues to grow. People cry when we can’t serve them—it’s not just hunger, it’s desperation. Our kitchens are often the last place with an open door, the only spot with boiling pots. It takes a toll on our team. They carry stories home, the kind that weigh on your spirit. This is life under a system of injustice, under intentional starvation. Even Israeli soldiers have reportedly begun admitting the severity of the crisis—privately, of course.

"We are literally keeping people alive. With every meal served, we’re not just feeding the hungry—we're preserving life. But when food isn’t enough, our team steps in with IV fluids at our medical point, helping patients who are too weak to eat or dangerously dehydrated. This is care at its most urgent, its most human.

"We also deliver hot meals daily to two hospitals—without fail. Patients and exhausted medical staff know they can count on us. On you and me. In a place where nearly everything has collapsed, that consistency is a miracle.

"And no, we don’t say that because we want applause. It’s miraculous because we’re still open for business—still cooking, still delivering, still healing—despite everything that’s happening to us in Gaza. Despite the bombs, the starvation, the displacement, and the heartbreak. We haven’t stopped.

"That’s the power of solidarity.

"Our water trucks deliver life itself.
Every day, we get water to nine locations, rotating between neighborhoods in the north and middle of Gaza. Women and elderly people often go thirsty, waiting. Still, we show up. And it’s only possible because you continue to show up for us.

"Our medical point sees 70 to 100 patients a day. We care for wounds, fevers, infections. We source medications from shuttered pharmacies, destroyed hospitals, and whatever small NGOs can share. Diapers and baby formula are now treasures—some families have resorted to plastic bags. The world is watching and condemning, but it’s not enough. Condemnation doesn’t heal children.

"And our flexible initiatives? They're still going strong. Yesterday we delivered fresh produce—cabbage, eggplant, peppers—to displaced families. Last week it was children's clothing. Every small gesture matters. Every pack makes a difference for one child, one mother, one family. While we might give away thirty produce packs, we could use a thousand more. People are stunned that we’re still able to source anything at all. They call, hoping to get one. These small packs are rarer than UFOs.

"Let’s be clear: #Israel owns this madness. And one day, it will be held accountable. May it happen before the afterlife.

"You keep us going. You keep the lights on. You give our team confidence that the world hasn't turned its back. I’m tired. I’m removed from the genocide. But I know our frontliners are beyond exhausted. What keeps them going is faith—and the tiny distractions that service brings. They are choosing others, in the face of destruction."

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

Food security experts warn #Gaza is at critical risk of #famine if #Israel doesn’t end its blockade

By SAM MEDNICK
Updated 10:48 PM EDT, May 12, 2025

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — "The #GazaStrip will likely fall into famine if Israel doesn’t lift its #blockade and stop its military campaign, food security experts said in a stark warning on Monday.

"Nearly half a million #Palestinians are facing possible #starvation, living in 'catastrophic' levels of hunger, and 1 million others can barely get enough food, according to findings by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises.

"The group said 'there is a high risk' of outright famine if circumstances don’t change.

"Israel has banned all food, shelter, medicine and any other goods from entering the Palestinian territory for the past 10 weeks, even as it carries out waves of airstrikes and ground operations. Gaza’s population of around 2.3 million people relies almost entirely on outside aid to survive, because Israel’s 19-month-old military campaign has wiped away most capacity to produce food inside the territory.

"Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the findings, saying the IPC’s previous forecasts had proven unfounded and that the group undercounted the amount of aid that entered Gaza during a ceasefire earlier this year.

"Food supplies are emptying out dramatically. Communal kitchens handing out cooked meals are virtually the only remaining source of food for most people in Gaza now, but they too are rapidly shutting down for lack of stocks.

"Thousands of Palestinians crowd daily outside the public kitchens, pushing and jostling with their pots to receive lentils or pasta."

#NorthGaza #GazaAid #FreePalestine #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #GazaSoupKitchen #IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal

#GazaSoupKitchen Update on April 28th, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Salam and hello from Seattle — racing to return my rental and catch the shuttle to the airport!

I was here to meet with our #UNRWA USA supporters and gear up for the inaugural Seattle Gaza 5K on August 3rd.
But my heart is back in Gaza.

Last week, we added a 7th soup kitchen location because things are desperate.
Now, heartbreakingly, we may have to open an 8th.

The need keeps growing while the food keeps shrinking.
Everyone is exhausted.
You see the videos.
Our family and crew are living it — seeing the bodies in the streets, in hospitals, at every delivery site.
This is their daily reality.
No words can soften it.

The sliver of good news?
American public opinion is shifting.
Israeli policies and practices are now about as popular as COVID-19 in 2020 — overwhelming, wrong, criminal.
There’s no "but." It’s just the truth.

One of our kitchens — where Chef Faten leads — has become the most photographed soup kitchen in history.
Every day for the past month, a reporter comes to capture it:
The endless lines.
The incredible crew — women and men — cooking under brutal conditions to feed their neighbors.
We fear for their safety, and she knows the risks of speaking out.

Friends send me clips from news sites — but none of it stops the nightmare.
People need us now.
And we keep showing up.

Even the reporters, who might have money and resources, leave after filming with a meal — because they, too, are food insecure.
That’s how widespread the hunger is.
This program speaks for the hungry.

Right now, we have about 2-3 weeks of food left — that's it. ⏳
Sourcing anything is already a massive struggle.

Our last move?
We sent a team south to try to find rice and pasta and bring it north.
Carts are banned. Rickshaws and livestock-pulled carts are all we have.
Nothing new has entered Gaza for almost two months.
People are starving.
Pause and really think about that.
It’s indefensible.

Still, we hold on.

We deliver water daily.
We run small projects — slushies for kids ❄️, bread, kids' clothes, haircuts ✂️ — whatever we can manage to give them a glimmer of normalcy.
Small joys matter.
In a place where kids are being killed and wounded every day, a cold slushie is a glimpse of childhood again.

At our medical point, nurses and doctors are seeing 70-100 patients daily.
We keep restocking supplies when we can.
The nurses are the true healers. ❤️‍

As for us?
We will not stop.
Maybe an 8th location this week.
Maybe another hospital next.
Whatever it takes.

Please:
Keep speaking out.
Keep believing in collective liberation.
Stay loud for Palestine.
They have suffered enough.
2023. 2024. 2025.
Let’s make sure this ends yesterday, not tomorrow.

In prayers and persistence,
Hani

P.S. For those who asked: my parents are alive (Alhamdulillah), leaning on their faith but tired, insecure, and worried for the grandkids they now have to raise while in their seventies. But it has also given them new purpose — and I know many Palestinians now find themselves in the same boat."

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

UN food agency says its food stocks in #Gaza have run out under #Israel’s blockade

By WAFAA SHURAFA and LEE KEATH
Updated 11:00 AM EDT, April 25, 2025

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — "The #WorldFoodProgram says its food stocks in the Gaza Strip have run out under Israel’s nearly 8-week-old blockade, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the territory.

"The WFP said in a statement that it delivered the last of its stocks to charity kitchens that it supports around Gaza. It said those kitchens are expected to run out of food in the coming days.

"Some 80% of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million relies primarily on charity kitchens for food, because other sources have shut down under Israel’s blockade, according to the U.N. The WFP has been supporting 37 kitchens that produced some 500,000 meals a day.

"It was not immediately clear how many kitchens would still be operating in Gaza if those shut down.

"Israel cut off entry of all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza on March 2 and then resumed its bombardment and ground offensives two weeks later, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. It says the moves aim to pressure Hamas to release hostages it still holds. Rights groups have called the blockade a 'starvation tactic' and a potential war crime."

https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-blockade-food-e492a5ba3197b15b1599747e3cde12b2

#NorthGaza #GazaAid #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GazaSoupKitchen #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #DeirAlBalah
#IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal

#GazaSoupKitchen Update on April 10th, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Dear friends,

Thank you, as always, for being with us. We hope you’re doing okay—these are uncertain, overwhelming, and often heartbreaking times, and your continued support means the world to us and to Gaza.

This past week, our team had a serious conversation: Should we scale back our work because food has become incredibly expensive, harder to find, and money transfer fees have skyrocketed? Or should we dig deeper? We already have the staff and the ability to send funds (we did have a hiccup earlier this week that we were able to resolve)

We chose to dig deeper.
We agreed that this is not the time to hold back—it’s the time to do more. The community needs us now. Many larger humanitarian actors are parked at the border, waiting for access. We’re one of the few nimble efforts still moving—still showing up, still cooking, still delivering water, still caring.

So here’s what your support made possible this week:

We added a sixth permanent Gaza Soup Kitchen location—this one serves families east of #Jabalia refugee camp. Our pop-up kitchens continue to operate in central #Gaza when possible.

We’re feeding 1,500 families daily, plus preparing 300 meals for two hospitals: the Indonesian Hospital and the Arab Baptist Hospital. Staff at the Indonesian Hospital even honored our crew with a certificate of appreciation—a moment of light in very dark days.

Ten water trucks continue to deliver water every day, reaching 20,000 people across various neighborhoods. Five teams run this effort—each team gets two trucks and heads to two different areas. Water is life, and we do our best to keep it flowing.

Our medical point is growing. We added a private room for patients and doctors, and we now care for about 80 patients a day. We hunt down medications when they’re nowhere to be found. It shouldn’t be heroic to find basic meds—but right now, it is. Still, we keep trying.

And in #BeitLahia, our incredible women-led team organized a special day for mothers. They distributed scarves and a hard-to-find beauty product, and served cold slushies to women and their children. It was a moment of joy, normalcy, and love. It cost us just $400 and lifted a whole town.

We are so proud of our team. But we’re also tired. Every day, we see news about #humanitarian workers and #SoupKitchens being targeted. We read it with heavy hearts, knowing it could be any of us. The toll of this work is real. But so is our promise:

We will be the last door to close.
The last pot to stop boiling.

We say this not with bravado—but with faith, grit, and deep responsibility. Your support makes this possible. And we are so, so grateful.

Please continue to share, donate, and keep Gaza in your hearts.

With love and determination,
The Gaza Soup Kitchen Team"

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

Holding the Line in #Gaza – A Personal Update (March 9, 2025)

by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer of the #GazaSoupKitchen

"Hey Friends,

Wanted to check in with an update on what’s happening in Gaza and what we’ve been up to at the Gaza Soup Kitchen. Things are still unbelievably tough, but we’re keeping the fire going—literally and figuratively.

Food and Supplies – It’s Only Getting Harder

Food isn’t being allowed in, and essentials like vegetables and meat are nearly impossible to find. Many people haven’t seen fresh produce or protein in weeks. Restaurants are shutting down because they simply don’t have ingredients to cook with, and the exchange rate is climbing again, making everything even more expensive for people who have nothing left.

Even with all that, we’re still cooking every day. We’ve managed to keep going, and right now, we have enough food supplies to last about two more weeks. After that? We’ll figure it out, just like we always do. We may have to scale back food parcels, but we’re determined to keep meals coming. Chicken is likely off the menu—without widespread refrigeration, there’s no way to store it safely.

Here’s what we did just today:
✅ Cooked at all five of our locations
✅ Delivered 75 food boxes to struggling families
✅ Sent 150 meals to hospitals
✅ Distributed 10 containers of drinking water

Life for Displaced Families – No Relief in Sight

Nothing is improving for displaced families. They’re still living in tents that don’t protect them from the rain or the heat. Supplies are drying up, medicine is scarce, and hospitals are barely functioning. It’s a grinding crisis. People are resilient, but you can feel the exhaustion setting in.

I know that for many outside, Gaza isn’t in the headlines like it was before. People move on, news cycles shift, attention fades. But the suffering hasn’t stopped—#Palestinians are still being targeted, families are still struggling, and there’s no real ceasefire in place. We can’t afford to look away.

The Money Talk – Spending More Than We’re Bringing In

My displaced Palestinian accountant (yes, really) sent me a message after going through our February bank statement. His exact words? 'Hani, you’re spending way more than you brought in. Maybe slow it down?'

I told him straight up — 'Not happening.' The community doesn’t need us to slow down; they need us to keep going. We’re not reckless, but we’re preparing for Ramadan—stocking up food, keeping locations ready, and making sure we can feed as many people as possible in the weeks ahead.

What’s Next?

We need:
✔️ More aid to get through
✔️ Access to essential supplies
✔️ Rebuilding materials to be allowed in

Until that happens, we’ll keep cooking. We’re not stopping.

Thanks for standing with us—this is only possible because of you. Your support means the world, and I hope you know that. More soon.

Hani

P.S. Please know that I hate talking about money—I’d much rather focus on the impact we’re making. But just to give you a sense of how far your support goes:

$30 buys a food box for a family in need

$200 delivers drinking water to 200 families

$8 provides a nourishing meal to someone who hasn't eaten in days

$200 runs our medical point for an entire day, providing care and comfort to 70+ people

Every dollar counts and makes a real difference in the lives of those we’re trying to help. Your generosity is what keeps us going."

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

#GazaSoupKitchen: Update on March 2, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Dear comrade,

#Ramadan is here, and all hands are on deck for the people of #Gaza.

Today:

✨ Five different locations that you support are serving hot meals, each offering at least two dishes and feeding 300+ families.

✨ We’ve been averaging 150 food boxes packed with essentials and groceries. I’ve been telling the team: buy what you can while you can—because sure enough, the Israelis announced they’re shutting the crossings and denying aid to Gaza. Prices shot up immediately, supplies are running low, and without refrigerators, fresh food like chicken and produce will spoil. Aid is free, but when it's denied, people will search for it.

Our team has stocked enough food for about ten days to sustain operations, meaning we’ll distribute even more food boxes until the market stabilizes. This morning, we dropped off 320 food boxes in #Jabalia. Tomorrow, we’ll do more. This kind of planning only happens because you rally around us.

A well-staffed medical point is serving up to 100 patients daily, offering primary care, dental care, baby and elderly support, and physiotherapy—all working hand in hand to bring comfort in these incredibly difficult times. The clinic also provides essentials like baby formula and diapers for children, as well as free basic medicine for those who need it most.

Eight to ten water trucks are reaching different neighborhoods in North Gaza. Remember: no aid means no fuel, and no fuel means it’s harder to pump water from the ground.

60 care packages distributed daily to little kids, sometimes tjese jabe snacks, other times essential like cheeses and jams.

140 hot meals are being delivered daily to hospitals, nourishing both patients and the medical staff keeping people alive.

Our team is expanding, giving us more mobility to take on bigger tasks at lightning speed. Just yesterday, we secured 350 blankets and delivered them to tent communities within hours. We did the same with food boxes. The faster we move, the more people we reach.

But what truly weighs on me is the relentless scrutiny from voices—trolls, really—who comment on the food we serve as if a meal somehow erases the suffering. Every plate we prepare is a battle—to secure funds, to find ingredients, to cook in a place where even the basics are scarce. And yet, when we share a meal prepared with love, some use it as an excuse to deny the reality of Gaza.

We are more than our suffering, but our suffering is real. No amount of bad-faith arguments will change that.

None of this happens without your love, support, and generosity. You are part of this movement, and together, we are making a difference—one meal, one blanket, one act of care at a time. Thank you for standing with Gaza. ✨

P. S. This week Sumud Podcast started sharing different segments of a two hour recording sessions I had with the hosts three weeks ago, I hope you get a chance to listen in."

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily
#Ceasefire #Hope #NorthGaza #GazaAid #GazaFundraisers #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GoFundMe #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #NorthernGaza
Remember #ChefMahmoud

#GazaSoupKitchen: Update on January 28, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Hi, Salaam, and hello everyone,

Thank you for your patience—I know I’m a few days late with this update, and I truly appreciate your understanding. It’s been an emotional roller coaster of a week, but off we go.

Despite the unbearable reality in Gaza, this week has given us rare moments of joy. We’ve seen heartwarming reunions—families hugging for the first time in 15 months, children embracing their parents, grandparents holding their grandkids. It’s a lot to process, but these moments remind us why we keep going.

At the same time, the harsh truth remains: most people returning to the north are finding their homes damaged or destroyed. Nine out of ten families come back to rubble, and yet, they return because Gaza is home. That’s why we’re shifting our operations northward, where traditionally 65% of Gaza’s population lived.

We’ve closed our two kitchens in the south, but in their place, we’ve distributed food parcels, snack packs, fresh produce, and meal kits—allowing families to cook for themselves. It’s been a meaningful way to serve, but our focus now is on the three operational soup kitchens in Gaza City.

1️⃣ #BeachCamp: Originally planned for just another week, but the need is too great to close. Many of our crew members lost their homes in #BeitLahia and #Jabalia, and they’re staying near the kitchen to serve their community. We’re keeping it open to provide meals for up to 400 families daily.

2️⃣ #AlNasr: Quickly becoming a central hub, serving up to 300 families daily. Our team is working hard to manage the crowd and ensure meals reach as many as possible.

3️⃣ #ArabBaptistHospital: This kitchen has been delivering not just meals but dignity—serving items like kebabs, rice, and fresh sandwiches. The hospital even gave us a certificate of appreciation, a gesture that meant so much to our team.

Beyond food, water is critical. Without it, people can’t clean up, rebuild, or even stay in their neighborhoods. We’ve been delivering four water trucks a day to #NorthGaza, and tomorrow will be our biggest push yet—aiming for 10 trucks. We’re urging all humanitarian actors to prioritize water delivery, especially to hard-to-reach areas like Jabalia.

We’re also working to establish a larger, permanent soup kitchen, likely in #Mashrua, Beit Lahia. The only thing holding us back is logistics—our kitchen equipment is stuck in the south, and we haven’t yet found a way to transport it north. But we’ll get there.

And as always, we’re dreaming bigger. Maybe we can revive the school #ChefMahmoud started. Maybe we can expand our support for orphans. But for now, we’re focused on the essentials—food, water, shelter, and clothing.

None of this would be possible without you. You have given so much to Gaza, and you deserve a moment of joy, of celebration. Every meal served, every drop of water delivered, every family supported—it’s because of your generosity. So please, take a deep breath and know that your kindness is making a real, tangible difference.

Additionally, I had the chance to speak with #NPR's local affiliate about what gives me, as a Palestinian, a sense of community. It was such an uplifting conversation, and the Gaza Soup Kitchen took center stage—because of all of you and the incredible things we’ve accomplished together. Every step of the way, every smile, every bite, and every drop of water has been a testament to our collective effort.

With gratitude and appreciation,
Hani"

#GazaSoupKitchen: A Letter from the Heart

Update on January 18, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Dear Friends, Supporters, and Allies,

You’ve done something remarkable—together, we’ve stood with Gaza during a time of unimaginable hardship. Your love, generosity, and unwavering support have been felt deeply by the crew, the families, and the children who’ve benefitted from your kindness. Share these moments with your loved ones, because you’ve made a difference in ways that can’t be put into words.

As the ceasefire approaches, there’s a cautious sense of hope. The mood in Gaza is golden, though fragile. People are smiling, holding on to the possibility of peace, even as they navigate the shadows of loss. Your contributions are a testament to the power of love and solidarity.

---

Southern Gaza: Resilience in Action

Our southern teams have worked tirelessly to deliver aid while prioritizing safety.

Chicken and Rice: 120 families in Khan Younes received freshly prepared meals.

Fresh Fruits: A luxury just weeks ago, we distributed fruit bundles to 128 families—a moment of joy amidst chaos.

Food Parcels in Al Zawaydah: Over 200 parcels, filled with canned goods, jams, and cheeses, were distributed to families who needed them most.

With aid increasing, it’s no surprise that certain “organized criminals” have vanished—proof of their ties to forces trying to control resources.

---

Northern Gaza: Cooking Through the Chaos

In the north, our teams haven’t missed a beat:

Hospital Meals: Chef Kabar at Al Nasser broke new ground by adding almonds to meals, a moment of innovation and nutrition.

Beach Camp Kitchen: Chef Faten and her sons, Yousef and Mohamed, continue creating beautiful meals with love and determination.

‍ The Fantastic Four & Five Guys Teams: These kitchen heroes at Al Nasser have been unstoppable in their commitment to feeding families.

Even as the north remains unstable, two tent-city kitchens and a school-based location will continue to serve families and hospitals in dire need.

---

Water: Life-Saving and Essential

We’ve doubled our water delivery capacity, now transporting 4,000 liters per trip compared to the previous 2,500 liters. Clean water is inexpensive but vital, and your support has ensured this lifeline remains available to so many.

---

Looking Forward: Hope Beyond the Horizon

Drinking Water: We’re working on scaling up deliveries to meet the ongoing need.

Education and Care: We’re exploring plans to reopen the school Chef Mahmoud built and provide additional support to orphans.

We dream of a day when fewer families wait in line for food, when displacement is a distant memory, and when Gaza’s strength is matched by lasting peace.

---

Gratitude from the Heart ❤️

This isn’t just about meals or water—it’s about dignity, resilience, and the hope for a better tomorrow. Thank you for being part of this journey, for standing by Gaza when it mattered most. Your support ensures that we can adapt, serve, and continue honoring the legacy of generosity and service.

Together, we go farther.

Hani

P.S. I spoke on CNN this morning, sharing the stories of suffering and survival from Gaza. It’s rare to speak with happy news in mind, but today, there’s hope—and that feels extraordinary."

Hot meals 4 Starved #Palestinian Kids in #NorthGaza

Update on January 10, 2025 by #HaniAlmadhoun, Organizer

"Dear Supporters,

Another week has passed, and I’m back with updates from the ground in #Gaza. While there’s talk of a ceasefire deal, I believe it’s little more than a gimmick—a distraction used to prolong suffering while giving political players the chance to pat themselves on the back. As the powerful negotiate in luxury, the people of Gaza endure relentless hardship—cold, hungry, and unsafe. Just my two cents.

Before diving into Gaza updates, I want to express solidarity with the people of California who are facing devastating wildfires. My heart goes out to those who have lost their homes and livelihoods.

Now, to the heart of the matter: the incredible work your generosity has made possible.

Soup Kitchens: Staying Strong

Our six soup kitchen locations remain fully operational, serving at capacity despite the immense challenges. We’ve also increased drinking water deliveries to six trucks daily, ensuring more families have access to clean water.

Here’s what’s happening across Gaza:

Khan Younes:
Crowds have grown significantly, and the team has stepped up, adding more pots to meet the need. Their food is delicious, their work tireless, and their photos uplifting. This location is now a hub of activity with three initiatives: the soup kitchen, the classroom, and the daily water deliveries. They’ve even added staff to enhance flavors and expand their impact.

Al Zawaydah:
This is our largest location, and the team here is nothing short of heroic. They cook every day, ensuring meals are hearty and nutritious by investing in extra vegetables. They’ve introduced a patron card system that guarantees meals while keeping capacity for new faces. It’s a well-oiled machine, driven by compassion.

Beach Camp:
Chef Faten and her team are doing wonders here. Five days a week, they bake savory pies, mini pizzas, sweet breads, and pastries. Fridays are reserved for rice dishes, a staple that also sustains three other locations in North Gaza, including the one providing meals for the Arab Baptist Hospital.

Al Shaikh Radwan:
Our northernmost location came under fire this week, with bullets landing alarmingly close to the cooking pots. It gave the crew a scare, but they soldiered on. Their courage inspires us all.

Hospital Deliveries:
Chef Kabar and his team prepare meals daily for the Arab Baptist Hospital, with Omar and Fatema ensuring these hot meals are delivered safely. Their dedication makes us so proud.

What’s Next?

I often ask myself: How can we do more? What else can we do? Sometimes we have answers; other times, we don’t. What’s certain is that our work remains critical. From distributing blankets, classroom supplies, to hygiene kits and care packages in both North and South Gaza, every dollar you donate is stretched to serve the community.

We need more resources, yes. And while moving funds into Gaza is a constant challenge, we persist, finding ways to get resources into the hands of our courageous crews who make all this magic happen.

How Can You Help?

Share and Engage: Social media platforms are slowing us down, and we need your help to amplify our stories. Share, engage, and tag us—it makes a bigger difference than you might think.

Boycott and Advocate: Support ethical companies and continue advocating for peace with justice.

Keep Gaza in Your Prayers: Your prayers and well wishes matter.

Thank you for being such incredible allies. Your generosity keeps the Gaza Soup Kitchen alive, and your support inspires us to keep going. Together, we’re making a tangible difference.

With gratitude and hope,
Hani
Gaza Soup Kitchen Team"

#BaitLahiya

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