Crucial Gaza Soup Kitchen Will Continue To Operate After Co-Founder Killed
Back in March, I had the honor of interviewing Hani Almadhoun, brother to Chef Mahmoud Almadhoun, who co-founded the Gaza Soup Kitchen, an initiative created in response to the Israeli Military’s food blockade, which threatened to push 2 million disenfranchised Palestinians to starvation.
Chef Almadhoun, with the help of friends, put their lives at risk, turning four pots and wood into a fully operational soup kitchen. The idea came to Almadhoun after his horrific abduction, detainment, and abuse by Israeli soldiers in December 2023. As word spread, what began as a small soup kitchen serving just 120 families grew to one that fed 3,000 each day.
On November 30, Chef Mahmoud Almadhoun was killed by an Israeli drone. The strike occurred outside of a local hospital he had visited that morning to deliver aid to patients. The death has sent a shockwave through those who knew Chef Madmoud, his family and brother especially, who described the news as “shattering.” Many have taken to social media to mourn his death and to call Israel out for targeting and killing him.
Israel just killed Chef Mahmoud Almadhoun of the Gaza Soup Kitchen in Beit Lahiya. He was one of the last men standing in the north, tirelessly feeding thousands every day, even after he was abducted & humiliated.
— Laila El-Haddad (@gazamom) November 30, 2024
THIS IS G$N@C!D€!l. https://t.co/OK0iuHbFnp
“We believe he was killed because of his unwavering dedication to solving problems for Kamal Adwan Hospital and ensuring they had whatever they needed. Mahmoud was a lifeline, standing in the way of the ethnic cleansing they are determined to carry out—and they would not allow that to continue,” Hani said in an Instagram post.
The Gaza Soup Kitchen was closed down temporarily and relocated but will continue operating in a new area north of Gaza City. They’ve established three functional kitchens that operate less than two miles apart and feed 800 families. Two additional kitchens are located in the south that serve another 800 families. “We know the need is growing, and we cannot punish the communities we serve for our grief or fear,” Hani says.
Along with the Gaza Soup Kitchen, Chef Mahmoud also co-founded a local school and medical clinic. We encourage you to donate to the Gaza Soup Kitchen and click here to lend support to Chef Mahmoud’s seven children.
