In these circumstances, geopolitics, general statistics, UN resolutions and great power initiatives for a patronizing „Board of Peace“ are not so much on Khalid Qadas’ mind. Rather he is focused on staying alive so that he can continue feeding thousands of hungry destitute people every day among the rubble of Gaza, while hoping to graduate from nursing school. There is no space in his current circumstances for him to deliberate the consequences of bestial government policies, the repercussions of which he is trying to alleviate.
Can you tell us about yourself?
I am Khalid Qadas, the spokesperson and photographer at the Gaza Soup Kitchen. I was born of Palestinian parents in the United Arab Emirates. At some point, my father decided we should all move to Gaza, my mother, sister, myself and he. He wanted his children to meet their Gazan family and get acquainted with the land. It would also ease the cost of studying which is very expensive in the UAE. This was three months before the war started. Three days after the war began, our apartment building was destroyed. We lost everything we had, our documents, our money, our gold. We ended up living in a tent. My father became sick, so one month ago I rented a room where the four of us are now living. Gazan university studies went on-line due to the war. I am now studying to be a nurse at the Palestinian Al Aqsa university, while simultaneously working at the Gaza Soup Kitchen.
In February 2024, the Gaza Soup Kitchen was founded by two brothers, Mahmoud in Gaza and Hani in the US. Their whole family in Gaza contributed to the enterprise which is run solely by Palestinians. Can you tell us about the circumstances of Mahmoud‘s death?
Mahmoud was driven by a need to help people who didn’t have access to food, people who were forcibly displaced to the south, moving back to the north. He started from zero. That was in Mashrou’ Beit Lahia, a densely populated residential housing area, near the Jabalya refugee camp, hence target of Israeli attacks. Slowly he opened more food distribution points throughout Gaza, it turned into the Gaza Soup Kitchen. Mahmoud became known as „Chef Mahmoud“. In November 2024, he was heading to the Kamal Adnan hospital, the major hospital serving patients in the north of Gaza, to prepare food for the patients and staff. He was targeted and killed by an Israeli drone, most likely as part of a pattern of attacks on aid workers. He was 33 years old, leaving behind him his wife and seven children. Majed, his brother, Safaa’, his wife, and four of their six children were also killed. His parents, two brothers and five sisters, of whom three are abroad, are still alive. All of them are working at the Gaza Soup Kitchen. Their commitment is to continue Mahmoud’s legacy, he was determined, no matter what, to continue feeding people until there were no more people in need.
How is the Gaza Soup Kitchen organised?
Mahmoud’s brother, Hani, supports our work from the US where he is based, he collects donations. We run 13 cooked meals distribution points; at each point, on average we service 300 to 400 individuals a day who collect food for their families; we have 10 trucks that carry clean water, one medical clinic and one educational facility. We also distribute food to hospitals and provide food parcels to families on a monthly basis, mostly to people who register through social media. We employ approximately 65 staff. We also engage graduated students as volunteers. The Gaza Soup Kitchen has become well known to Gazans.
Where has and is today the food you provide to communities sourced from?
We purchase food from numerous local Palestinian vendors, because different vendors sell different products and because their prices vary. We may spend 3 to 4 hours shopping for food every day. There was very little of it available previously, but in the past month or so, food availability has increased somewhat. However, food prices are unafordable for most people who have lost everything, job, savings, home. One modest meal costs about US$ 100, including firewood to cook it. This is why people continue to seek food at soup kitchens. Israel continues to have full control over the influx of food into Gaza.
Were there ever times when the Gaza Soup Kitchen couldn‘t deliver?
Yes, when it was dangerous because of Israeli attacks, Mahmoud was concerned about the staff’s security. But as soon as shelling stopped, distribution resumed. When food was extremely scarce, we chose to buy at high prices, rather than not feed hungry families. We were making the impossible happen to keep the Gaza Soup Kitchen functional.
Is there a beneficiary criteria or do you distribute to anyone who comes?
We do not have a beneficiary selection system, all who come are in need. Every day we see new faces at the distribution points, we try to provide sufficient food for all of them.
Videos of food distribution points show small children unable to manage the crowds collecting food: why are older family members not taking on the task of fetching food?
The reasons vary, as the distribution points have hours, the father may be fetching water, the children food; the father may have been killed or is sick, the child may have taken over his father’s responsibilities; the father may be working. We try to create special lines for children and women, trying to accommodate them. There is always fear among the children and adults seeking food that the food will run out, that they may not get any.
In view of the dangers of unclean food and utensils, do you manage to apply basic hygiene standards when cooking and distributing food?
Yes, nobody is allowed to enter the cooking area except the chef and his crew. Staff doesn’t touch utensils without washing hands, we systematically wear gloves, we change them often especially when preparing food, we use cleaning products to wash utensils.
Is there a difference between the Gaza Soup Kitchen and known international humanitarian organisations, e.g. the World Central Kitchen or UNRWA, that distribute food?
I can only speak for the Gaza Soup Kitchen. The team works like a family. That spirit extends to those who come for food, we ask them what they would like to eat tomorrow, whether the food is too spicy or not enough so, we give them choices. We work with love for a large extended family.
If you had any type of food available now, what would you most like to eat?
I am a vegetarian, I would love Mexican food, guacamole for example.
Phase II of the Trump peace plan was announced. What future would you like to see, and what future do you see as possible?
Sometimes we think that we will fix Gaza. Other times I walk amidst the rubble, I become overwhelmed with sadness, I wonder what the future can be. Nobody here knows what their future will be. For now there is still shelling, killing, dying. One man almost died in my arms two days ago while I was helping our doctor near the food distribution point. Maybe when I go home today, I could be killed. The future…we mostly think how we will manage through each day.
Can you envision living side by side with Israeli Jews one day?
That is difficult for most to envisage at this stage. But I hope so, all this blood and dying must stop, I hope it can be so.