Hunger Amidst Ruins: The Fight for Food in Gaza

This soup kitchen provided essential support for many Palestinians in northern Gaza. 18-year-old Salem Madhat Alaydi relied on it daily to provide food for his family of seven. However, it closed on May 24 after Israel blocked crucial supplies to exert pressure on Hamas during cease-fire negotiations. In May, Israel initiated new aid centers in Gaza, accusing Hamas of misappropriating assistance intended for the population through a previous system overseen by the United Nations. The UN has rejected these claims and boycotted the new system, alleging that Israel is weaponizing aid as part of its military strategy. Since the centers opened, chaos has rife, with reports from the Gaza Health Ministry detailing numerous fatalities among Palestinians seeking assistance. The Israeli military stated that it had fired upon individuals who strayed from approved paths and ignored verbal warnings. Alaydi’s family now depends on financial support from a relative living overseas to purchase food. Meanwhile, Aya Ehab Zaid has been operating her own soup kitchen near Gaza City. Zaid has captured her life’s journey throughout the conflict via social media, detailing that she receives contributions online to help feed her family and others in need. Despite being displaced over 15 times, Zaid expressed her determination to continue providing food for her community.