Details
Supporters

Help us build a coffee shop in Gaza

Donate

Organized by HUMANITE

We’re raising $100,000 to open a locally-led coffee shop in Gaza that will feed people everyday for free, no questions asked.

HUMANITE Peace Collective & its local Palestinian team are building The DEPT. of PEACE, a coffee shop in Gaza that will feed people everyday for free, employ Palestinians, and serve as a hub for rebuilding local culture.
While bombs continue to drop, Palestinians are still trying to eat breakfast, earn a living, meet friends, make art, remember what was lost, and imagine what comes next.

So, we’re opening a place for that.

It’s called the DEPT. OF PEACE . 

Gaza faces unimaginable reconstruction needs: hospitals, schools, roads, etc. Daily violence from Israel has not ceased. But rebuilding a community also means rebuilding the ordinary places where life happens, like coffee shops where neighbors can come together for the greater good.
Our Palestinian team has identified a roughly 200m² property west of Gaza City, near the seaport and overlooking the Mediterranean. To be clear, this isn’t a finished coffee shop. It needs renovation, plumbing, electrical work, furniture, equipment, supplies, etc.

‍That's what this campaign is for.

‍Our goal is to do the minimum renovation necessary, equip the café, train our Palestinian team, put a DEPT. OF PEACE sign over the door, and open as quickly as conditions allow so we can begin feeding our neighbors.

WHY A COFFEE SHOP?

Because while many believe Palestinians are terrorists…
And others believe Palestinians are superheroes…
Few seem to believe that Palestinians are ordinary people.

Historically, Gaza had independent coffee shops where friends and neighbors gathered. Places where people debated, laughed, worked, created and lived.
Many of those places are gone. You may even remember our teammate, Malak Musleh, who was killed last year when Al-Baqa Café was targeted and bombed by Israel (video above).
We’re building the DEPT. OF PEACE in her honor, in hopes that it can be a part of the renaissance and advancement of Palestinian life, art, philosophy, and culture. 

WHY $100,000?

This $100,000 funds Phase 1. Here is our breakdown of estimated total costs:

$12,000 — Lease, deposit and occupancy costs
‍$17,500 — Renovation, electrical, plumbing, finishes and signage
‍$22,500 — Café equipment and furniture
‍$6,000 — Opening inventory, supplies and procurement
‍$20,000 — Local payroll and staff training
‍$5,000 — Free community meals and initial programming
‍$7,000 — Utilities, logistics and operating reserve
‍$10,000 — Contingency
‍
‍TOTAL: $100,000

WHO IS BUILDING THIS?

The DEPT. OF PEACE is a HUMANITE project led by our Palestinian team on the ground in Gaza who have spent decades working for peace and justice among their communities and across borders. 
Rami Aman is a prominent Palestinian peace activist from Gaza. As the founder of the Gaza Youth Committee, Rami pioneered efforts to foster dialogue and understanding between Israelis and Palestinian peace activists on both sides of the Iron Wall. In 2020, he was kidnapped and tortured by Hamas, charged with normalizing relations with Israel and “weakening the revolutionary spirit” for his peace work. Today, Rami serves as the Gaza Representative for HUMANITE Peace Collective. 
Ramez Alsoury is a Palestinian Christian and field leader of HUMANITE’s Gaza team. Ramez lost two of his children to Israel’s targeted bombing of the church where his family was sheltering at the start of the genocide campaign.
Nesma Hamouda is a Gaza-based media professional and storyteller who has worked in journalism, civil society, and youth volunteerism for more than 15 years. With HUMANITE, she supports women and children through humanitarian aid and safe spaces for psychosocial support.
Alaa Ibrahim is a Gaza-based humanitarian and youth leader who has led HUMANITE’s local relief team throughout the war, distributing essential aid and creating activities for children and families. Despite being injured multiple times, he remains committed to building spaces for art, community, and peace.
Jaber Saleh is a skilled welder and metalworker who uses salvaged iron from destroyed areas of Gaza to help repair homes and community facilities. Through HUMANITE, he provides practical repairs and structural support for families who otherwise could not afford them.

Why is HUMANITE Peace Collective building the DEPT. of PEACE?

HUMANITE Peace Collective is a humanitarian aid organization founded by refugees and war survivors working to end violence—before, during, and after war. The HUMANITE team brings nearly two decades of experience working alongside communities to build (and rebuild) just peace.

But peace isn't only about what happens when the fighting stops.

It’s also about whether people have somewhere to gather.
Somewhere to work.
Somewhere to share a meal, make art, drink coffee, and feel part of a community.

That’s why we’re building the DEPT. OF PEACE.

A coffee shop might seem like a small thing in the middle of a war. But small, ordinary places are part of what makes a community a community.

The DEPT. of PEACE will create local jobs, provide free meals, support Palestinian artists and give people in Gaza a place to gather and experience ordinary life again.

Because rebuilding isn't only about bricks and concrete.

It’s about rebuilding the places where people live, work, connect, and belong.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

If all goes well, we hope to show you photos of us securing our first location within a few weeks. 

Then: 
  • Renovations that support local Palestinian carpenters, welders, and masons.
  • Then barista training. 
  • Hanging up the DEPT. OF PEACE sign. 
  • Getting local art onto the walls. 
  • Grand opening

In time, with any luck, you’ve helped build a vibrant hub in Gaza that nurtures a kind of peace that changes us all.
  • A Palestinian team earning salaries.
  • Customers coming back.
  • Free breakfasts for anyone in Gaza who needs it.
  • A neighborhood looking a little like it did once.
  • And a world being repaired.

You have questions

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Why the name, “DEPT OF PEACE”?
Who is receiving the donations?
Donate
$104

Luisa Simone made a $50 donation

20:14 ET · September 22, 2026

Humans helping humans. I'm grateful for you!

$104

Sarah Pattee made a $104 donation

14:03 ET · September 22, 2026

Thank you for allowing me to be a (small) part in spreading peace and building community in Gaza.

$104

Stefani Miller made a $104 donation

23:05 ET · September 21, 2026

Thank you for caring about the people of Gaza and the world.

$50

Angela Watson made a $50 donation

11:01 ET · September 21, 2026

Thank you for your amazing work to uplift humanity!

$104

Robin Brandt made a $104 donation

10:39 ET · September 21, 2026

I’m so grateful to be able to contribute to something that will touch people directly!

$104

Margaret Cain made a $104 donation

10:31 ET · September 21, 2026

You are amazing! Dept.of Peace - I love it. May you and the oppressed people of Palestine experience many miracles.

$104

Elaine Besmer made a $104 donation

10:06 ET · September 21, 2026

Thank you! Let's spread peace & love to all!

$26

PEGGY REULER made a $26 donation

21:53 ET · September 20, 2026

Great work!  Thank you!

$104

Jim Scott made a $104 donation

21:53 ET · September 20, 2026

Gutsy idea!  Glad to help

$104

Eva Kutas made a $104 donation

17:33 ET · September 20, 2026

Thank you for taking this action to provide a place that can bring people together.

$26

Nischal Mali made a $26 donation

02:01 ET · September 20, 2026

Keep up your good work!

$26

Amanda Greatwater-Ramsay made a $26 donation

01:13 ET · September 20, 2026

for our brothers and sisters.

$50

Shomace Fallah made a $50 donation

23:52 ET · September 19, 2026

So happy you are doing this!

$52

Megan K O Connor made a $52 donation

23:00 ET · September 19, 2026

RPCV 2010-2012 Ukraine. Thank you. As you know, this is what really makes a difference.

$26

Raul Vergara made a $26 donation

22:02 ET · September 19, 2026

Wishing all the best to you always

$52

Bailey Posey made a $52 donation

20:24 ET · September 19, 2026

Doing this type of humanity work is the embodiment of love <3

$26

Colleen Smith made a $26 donation

19:00 ET · September 19, 2026

You guys are amazing. Thanks for all you do

$26

Beverly Roberts made a $26 donation

18:12 ET · September 19, 2026

Thank you for doing this!

$78

John Richardson made a $78 donation

14:35 ET · September 19, 2026

For Gaza coffee shop

$52

Anonymous made a $52 donation

14:06 ET · September 19, 2026

Thank you for doing good.

AM

Adam Marengo

13:58 ET · September 19, 2026

May love travel farther than fear. May it cross every border, outlive every cruelty, and find its way to Gaza as bread, coffee, shelter, warmth, and the small mercies that make a life feel human again. To our Palestinian neighbors: you are not forgotten. Your names, your stories, your grief, your laughter, your ordinary mornings - they matter. No distance can make us strangers to your humanity. To feed one another is to say: you belong here. You are worth protecting. You are loved.

$20

Sarah Torres made a $20.80 donation

13:52 ET · September 19, 2026

Keep going to show how humanity and love is greater than greed and evil!

$52

Hannah Randolph made a $52 donation

13:05 ET · September 19, 2026

Love this. Free Palestine! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

AN

Anonymous

12:56 ET · September 19, 2026

Thank you for doing something wonderful

$104

Rebecca Pierce made a $104 donation

12:38 ET · September 19, 2026

Thank you for loving our neighbors through feeding the hungry and comforting the needy & oppressed.

$250

Candace Stowell made a $250 donation

11:51 ET · September 19, 2026

Shukran!

$26

Anonymous made a $26 donation

11:49 ET · September 19, 2026

Love this.

$26

Anonymous made a $26 donation

10:23 ET · September 19, 2026

I forwarded your announcement about this coffee shop to a Palestinian friend in the West Bank.  He wishes you all the best.  What a great idea.

$26

Lindsay Silva made a $26 donation

06:26 ET · September 19, 2026

Wish it could be more… <3

CR

Carly Rice

04:41 ET · September 19, 2026

Thank you for the support and opportunity you are creating. Always love.

$26

Tracy Myers made a $26 donation

04:04 ET · September 19, 2026

LOVE WINS.

$26

Stacy Krieger made a $26 donation

03:09 ET · September 19, 2026

I love this! Free Palestine!

$26

Anonymous made a $26 donation

03:01 ET · September 19, 2026

Sending love to all ❤️

$208

Marc La Fontaine made a $208 donation

02:39 ET · September 19, 2026

The resurrection of Gaza begins. Free Palestine🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

$26

Diane Yearous made a $26 donation

02:08 ET · September 19, 2026

Love your spirit! You inspire me and fill me with hope!

$26

Anonymous made a $26 donation

01:20 ET · September 19, 2026

It seems a natural progression for you! A beacon of hope for those in Gaza! Thanks for all you continue to do!

Show more

Help us build a coffee shop in Gaza

Organized by HUMANITE

We’re raising $100,000 to open a locally-led coffee shop in Gaza that will feed people everyday for free, no questions asked.

HUMANITE Peace Collective & its local Palestinian team are building The DEPT. of PEACE, a coffee shop in Gaza that will feed people everyday for free, employ Palestinians, and serve as a hub for rebuilding local culture.
While bombs continue to drop, Palestinians are still trying to eat breakfast, earn a living, meet friends, make art, remember what was lost, and imagine what comes next.

So, we’re opening a place for that.

It’s called The Dept. of Peace. 

Gaza faces unimaginable reconstruction needs: hospitals, schools, roads, etc. Daily violence from Israel has not ceased. But rebuilding a community also means rebuilding the ordinary places where life happens, like coffee shops where neighbors can come together for the greater good.
Our Palestinian team has identified a roughly 200m² property west of Gaza City, near the seaport and overlooking the Mediterranean. To be clear, this isn’t a finished coffee shop. It needs renovation, plumbing, electrical work, furniture, equipment, supplies, etc.

‍That's what this campaign is for.

‍Our goal is to do the minimum renovation necessary, equip the café, train our Palestinian team, put a DEPT. OF PEACE sign over the door, and open as quickly as conditions allow so we can begin feeding our neighbors.

WHY A COFFEE SHOP?

Historically, Gaza had independent coffee shops where friends and neighbors gathered. Places where people debated, laughed, worked, created and lived.
Many of those places are gone. You may even remember our teammate, Malak Musleh, who was killed last year when Al-Baqa Café was targeted and bombed by Israel (video above).
We’re building the Dept. of Peace in her honor, in hopes that it can be a part of the renaissance and advancement of Palestinian life, art, philosophy, and culture. 

WHY $100,000?

This $100,000 funds Phase 1. Here is our breakdown of estimated total costs:

$12,000 — Lease, deposit and occupancy costs
‍$17,500 — Renovation, electrical, plumbing, finishes and signage
‍$22,500 — Café equipment and furniture
‍$6,000 — Opening inventory, supplies and procurement
‍$20,000 — Local payroll and staff training
‍$5,000 — Free community meals and initial programming
‍$7,000 — Utilities, logistics and operating reserve
‍$10,000 — Contingency
‍
‍TOTAL: $100,000

WHO IS BUILDING THIS?

The DEPT. OF PEACE is a HUMANITE project led by our Palestinian team on the ground in Gaza who have spent decades working for peace and justice among their communities and across borders. 
Rami Aman is a prominent Palestinian peace activist from Gaza. As the founder of the Gaza Youth Committee, Rami pioneered efforts to foster dialogue and understanding between Israelis and Palestinian peace activists on both sides of the Iron Wall. In 2020, he was kidnapped and tortured by Hamas, charged with normalizing relations with Israel and “weakening the revolutionary spirit” for his peace work. Today, Rami serves as the Gaza Representative for HUMANITE Peace Collective. 
Ramez Alsoury is a Palestinian Christian and field leader of HUMANITE’s Gaza team. Ramez lost two of his children to Israel’s targeted bombing of the church where his family was sheltering at the start of the genocide campaign.
Nesma Hamouda is a Gaza-based media professional and storyteller who has worked in journalism, civil society, and youth volunteerism for more than 15 years. With HUMANITE, she supports women and children through humanitarian aid and safe spaces for psychosocial support.
Alaa Ibrahim is a Gaza-based humanitarian and youth leader who has led HUMANITE’s local relief team throughout the war, distributing essential aid and creating activities for children and families. Despite being injured multiple times, he remains committed to building spaces for art, community, and peace.
Jaber Saleh is a skilled welder and metalworker who uses salvaged iron from destroyed areas of Gaza to help repair homes and community facilities. Through HUMANITE, he provides practical repairs and structural support for families who otherwise could not afford them.

Why is HUMANITE Peace Collective building the DEPT. of PEACE?

HUMANITE Peace Collective is a humanitarian aid organization founded by refugees and war survivors working to end violence—before, during, and after war. The HUMANITE team brings nearly two decades of experience working alongside communities to build (and rebuild) just peace.

But peace isn't only about what happens when the fighting stops.

It’s also about whether people have somewhere to gather.
Somewhere to work.
Somewhere to share a meal, make art, drink coffee, and feel part of a community.

That’s why we’re building the DEPT. of PEACE.

A coffee shop might seem like a small thing in the middle of a war. But small, ordinary places are part of what makes a community a community.

The DEPT. of PEACE will create local jobs, provide free meals, support Palestinian artists and give people in Gaza a place to gather and experience ordinary life again.

Because rebuilding isn't only about bricks and concrete.

It’s about rebuilding the places where people live, work, connect, and belong.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

If all goes well, we hope to show you photos of us securing our first location within a few weeks. 

Then: 
  • Renovations that support local Palestinian carpenters, welders, and masons.
  • Then barista training. 
  • Hanging up the Dept. of Peace sign. 
  • Getting local art onto the walls. 
  • Grand opening

In time, with any luck, you’ve helped build a vibrant hub in Gaza that nurtures a kind of peace that changes us all.
  • A Palestinian team earning salaries.
  • Customers coming back.
  • Free breakfasts for anyone in Gaza who needs it.
  • A neighborhood looking a little like it did once.
  • And a world being repaired.

You have questions

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Why the name “ DEPT of PEACE?”
Who is receiving the donations?
Donate
$104

Luisa Simone made a $50 donation

20:14 ET · September 22, 2026

Humans helping humans. I'm grateful for you!

$104

Sarah Pattee made a $104 donation

14:03 ET · September 22, 2026

Thank you for allowing me to be a (small) part in spreading peace and building community in Gaza.

$104

Stefani Miller made a $104 donation

23:05 ET · September 21, 2026

Thank you for caring about the people of Gaza and the world.

$50

Angela Watson made a $50 donation

11:01 ET · September 21, 2026

Thank you for your amazing work to uplift humanity!

$104

Robin Brandt made a $104 donation

10:39 ET · September 21, 2026

I’m so grateful to be able to contribute to something that will touch people directly!

$104

Margaret Cain made a $104 donation

10:31 ET · September 21, 2026

You are amazing! Dept.of Peace - I love it. May you and the oppressed people of Palestine experience many miracles.

$104

Elaine Besmer made a $104 donation

10:06 ET · September 21, 2026

Thank you! Let's spread peace & love to all!

$26

PEGGY REULER made a $26 donation

21:53 ET · September 20, 2026

Great work!  Thank you!

$104

Jim Scott made a $104 donation

21:53 ET · September 20, 2026

Gutsy idea!  Glad to help

$104

Eva Kutas made a $104 donation

17:33 ET · September 20, 2026

Thank you for taking this action to provide a place that can bring people together.

$26

Nischal Mali made a $26 donation

02:01 ET · September 20, 2026

Keep up your good work!

$26

Amanda Greatwater-Ramsay made a $26 donation

01:13 ET · September 20, 2026

for our brothers and sisters.

$50

Shomace Fallah made a $50 donation

23:52 ET · September 19, 2026

So happy you are doing this!

$52

Megan K O Connor made a $52 donation

23:00 ET · September 19, 2026

RPCV 2010-2012 Ukraine. Thank you. As you know, this is what really makes a difference.

$26

Raul Vergara made a $26 donation

22:02 ET · September 19, 2026

Wishing all the best to you always

$52

Bailey Posey made a $52 donation

20:24 ET · September 19, 2026

Doing this type of humanity work is the embodiment of love <3

$26

Colleen Smith made a $26 donation

19:00 ET · September 19, 2026

You guys are amazing. Thanks for all you do

$26

Beverly Roberts made a $26 donation

18:12 ET · September 19, 2026

Thank you for doing this!

$78

John Richardson made a $78 donation

14:35 ET · September 19, 2026

For Gaza coffee shop

$52

Anonymous made a $52 donation

14:06 ET · September 19, 2026

Thank you for doing good.

AM

Adam Marengo

13:58 ET · September 19, 2026

May love travel farther than fear. May it cross every border, outlive every cruelty, and find its way to Gaza as bread, coffee, shelter, warmth, and the small mercies that make a life feel human again. To our Palestinian neighbors: you are not forgotten. Your names, your stories, your grief, your laughter, your ordinary mornings - they matter. No distance can make us strangers to your humanity. To feed one another is to say: you belong here. You are worth protecting. You are loved.

$20

Sarah Torres made a $20.80 donation

13:52 ET · September 19, 2026

Keep going to show how humanity and love is greater than greed and evil!

$52

Hannah Randolph made a $52 donation

13:05 ET · September 19, 2026

Love this. Free Palestine! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

AN

Anonymous

12:56 ET · September 19, 2026

Thank you for doing something wonderful

$104

Rebecca Pierce made a $104 donation

12:38 ET · September 19, 2026

Thank you for loving our neighbors through feeding the hungry and comforting the needy & oppressed.

$250

Candace Stowell made a $250 donation

11:51 ET · September 19, 2026

Shukran!

$26

Anonymous made a $26 donation

11:49 ET · September 19, 2026

Love this.

$26

Anonymous made a $26 donation

10:23 ET · September 19, 2026

I forwarded your announcement about this coffee shop to a Palestinian friend in the West Bank.  He wishes you all the best.  What a great idea.

$26

Lindsay Silva made a $26 donation

06:26 ET · September 19, 2026

Wish it could be more… <3

CR

Carly Rice

04:41 ET · September 19, 2026

Thank you for the support and opportunity you are creating. Always love.

$26

Tracy Myers made a $26 donation

04:04 ET · September 19, 2026

LOVE WINS.

$26

Stacy Krieger made a $26 donation

03:09 ET · September 19, 2026

I love this! Free Palestine!

$26

Anonymous made a $26 donation

03:01 ET · September 19, 2026

Sending love to all ❤️

$208

Marc La Fontaine made a $208 donation

02:39 ET · September 19, 2026

The resurrection of Gaza begins. Free Palestine🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

Show more