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Help us build a coffee shop in Gaza
By HUMANITE & Heretic Coffee Co
&
Help us build a coffee shop in Gaza
Organized by Heretic Coffee Co & 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.
Heretic Coffee Co. & HUMANITE Peace Collective have partnered to begin 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.
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.
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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.
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.
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
$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 collaborative effort between Heretic in the U.S. and HUMANITE’s 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 are Heretic Coffee Co.
& HUMANITE Peace Collective doing this work together?
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.
Heretic Coffee Co. is a non-profit coffee shop in Portland, OR. They received global recognition in 2025 for their SNAP Breakfast Program. When the US government shut down over political disputes, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were cut off from those who needed it most. Heretic began serving free breakfasts to anyone, no questions asked. In just one week, they raised over $350,000, which they have used to serve 100,000+ free meals to those in need. In short: HUMANITE knows how to help people before, during, and after war. Heretic knows how to bring people together for the greater good over a free cup of coffee. By combining what we each do best, we're building The DEPT. OF PEACE.
Heretic Coffee Co. is a non-profit coffee shop in Portland, OR. They received global recognition in 2025 for their SNAP Breakfast Program. When the US government shut down over political disputes, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were cut off from those who needed it most. Heretic began serving free breakfasts to anyone, no questions asked. In just one week, they raised over $350,000, which they have used to serve 100,000+ free meals to those in need. In short: HUMANITE knows how to help people before, during, and after war. Heretic knows how to bring people together for the greater good over a free cup of coffee. By combining what we each do best, we're building The DEPT. OF PEACE.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
If all goes well, we hope to show you photos of us securing our first location within a few weeks.
Then:
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?
Help us build a coffee shop in Gaza
Organized by Heretic Coffee Co & 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.
Heretic Coffee Co. & HUMANITE Peace Collective have partnered to begin 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.
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.
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
$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 collaborative effort between Heretic in the U.S. and HUMANITE’s 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 are Heretic Coffee Co. & HUMANITE Peace Collective doing this work together?
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.
Heretic Coffee Co. is a non-profit coffee shop in Portland, OR. They received global recognition in 2025 for their SNAP Breakfast Program. When the US government shut down over political disputes, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were cut off from those who needed it most. Heretic began serving free breakfasts to anyone, no questions asked. In just one week, they raised over $350,000, which they have used to serve 100,000+ free meals to those in need. In short: HUMANITE knows how to help people before, during, and after war. Heretic knows how to bring people together for the greater good over a free cup of coffee. By combining what we each do best, we're building The DEPT. of Peace.
Heretic Coffee Co. is a non-profit coffee shop in Portland, OR. They received global recognition in 2025 for their SNAP Breakfast Program. When the US government shut down over political disputes, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were cut off from those who needed it most. Heretic began serving free breakfasts to anyone, no questions asked. In just one week, they raised over $350,000, which they have used to serve 100,000+ free meals to those in need. In short: HUMANITE knows how to help people before, during, and after war. Heretic knows how to bring people together for the greater good over a free cup of coffee. By combining what we each do best, we're building The DEPT. of Peace.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
If all goes well, we hope to show you photos of us securing our first location within a few weeks.
Then:
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?