https://simplecast.com The Gaza Chef Mahmud Almadhoun ran a soup kitchen in the North of the Gaza Strip. In November 2024, he was killed. The question of why he had to die leads us deep into the worrisome future of warfare DIE ZEIT en Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:31:35 +0000 Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:50:36 +0000 https://the-gaza-chef.simplecast.com The Gaza Chef https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/d51f2924-ec7a-47a6-bcfe-0645013e5925/93984497-f68b-4aad-8ee1-1635da28cc83/3000x3000/cover-the-gaza-chef-20-2.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-gaza-chef.simplecast.com serial Mahmud Almadhoun ran a soup kitchen in the North of the Gaza Strip. In November 2024, he was killed. The question of why he had to die leads us deep into the worrisome future of warfare DIE ZEIT false https://feeds.simplecast.com/pzrTtNCO ai warfare,gaza,hamas,idf,israel DIE ZEIT podcast@zeit.de fd1ef240-015b-4ceb-aa2a-aeea8c678e17 #5 The IDF Reaches out Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:31:35 +0000 podcast@zeit.de (DIE ZEIT) https://the-gaza-chef.simplecast.com/episodes/5-the-idf-reaches-out-vFrdjTUi In this final episode, we speak with Mahmud’s family, who still live in the Gaza Strip. They tell us about the chaos and uncertainty of their lives. A ceasefire is now formally in place, but everyone is aware that the war might return. 

We talk to the one person who disagrees with the family‘s explanation for Mahmud‘s death. And then, at the last minute, the Israeli Army gets in touch – and has something entirely new to say. 

The podcast team can be reached at GazaChef@zeit.de

]]> #5 The IDF Reaches out DIE ZEIT 00:38:32 After 18 months of investigating the question still stands: Why did Mahmud have to die? And how exactly did it happen? For every theory, there is one thing that just doesn’t seem to fit. But then the IDF gets in touch After 18 months of investigating the question still stands: Why did Mahmud have to die? And how exactly did it happen? For every theory, there is one thing that just doesn’t seem to fit. But then the IDF gets in touch false full 6 1 50cecedf-4ff2-4940-86f5-0f0ebac0a8e9 #4 The Centerpiece is "Lavender" Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:31:31 +0000 podcast@zeit.de (DIE ZEIT) https://the-gaza-chef.simplecast.com/episodes/4-the-centerpiece-is-lavender-gwT485CB An explosive exposé by Israeli Journalist Yuval Abraham shows that the IDF is using AI-assisted systems in order to find military targets in Gaza. 

We explore what bearings this might have had on Mahmud’s death. How do these AI-supported systems work? And is it concievable that one of them suggested Chef Mahmud as a target? 

The podcast team can be reached at GazaChef@zeit.de

]]> #4 The Centerpiece is "Lavender" DIE ZEIT 00:34:08 Our search leads us right into a horrific scenario: the merging of human and artificial intelligence in war. And there is reason to suspect that the future has already began Our search leads us right into a horrific scenario: the merging of human and artificial intelligence in war. And there is reason to suspect that the future has already began false full 5 1 4c2fb83a-ae38-4911-8531-02b5bd3e4cff #3 Inner Workings of a Secret Operation Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:31:27 +0000 podcast@zeit.de (DIE ZEIT) https://the-gaza-chef.simplecast.com/episodes/3-inner-workings-of-a-secret-operation-dWn0JbMO Who decided that Mahmud should die? A surprising piece of evidence from a person on the ground leads us tot he IDF’s tearget rooms. In these places, the Israeli army decides which buildings or people that they believe are assets of Hamas will be attacked next. But just how reliable is the intelligence? How much collateral damage is deemed acceptable? 

Tal Mimran, who used to work in target rooms as a legal advisor, describes the inner mechanics of these places – and presents us with a new possibility of why Mahmud was killed. 

The podcast team can be reached at GazaChef@zeit.de

CREDITS 

Reporting, Script and Presentation: Yassin Musharbash.

Editor: Tim Howard 

Story-telling consultant: Britta Stuff 

Producer: Pia Rauschenberger and Markus Gläser 

Title theme: Joscha Grunewald, based on an idea by Yassin Musharbash. 

Sound design: Tim Howard, with material by Joscha Grunewald, Tim Howard and Blue Dot Sessions. 

Additional sound design: Christian Küker, Pool Artists. 

Recording, editing and post-production: Markus Gläser of Die Zeit and Christian Küker, Pool Artists. 

The Fact-checking: Luisa Hommerich

Additional research and translations: Suha Ma’ay‘a and Firas Halasseh

]]> #3 Inner Workings of a Secret Operation DIE ZEIT 00:38:09 In their target rooms, the Israeli army makes decisions about life and death. Tal Mimran worked there as a legal advisor – and he has a surprising theory regarding the case of Chef Mahmud In their target rooms, the Israeli army makes decisions about life and death. Tal Mimran worked there as a legal advisor – and he has a surprising theory regarding the case of Chef Mahmud false full 4 1 c9f14b9a-8c94-4db2-8221-79954960735a #2 The Sky in Flames Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:31:22 +0000 podcast@zeit.de (DIE ZEIT) https://the-gaza-chef.simplecast.com/episodes/2-the-sky-in-flames-9sqfafau As a young man, Mahmud’s life had no real direction. But when the horror of war and a humanitarian crisis hit the Gaza Strip, he unexpectedly finds his mission: cooking food for the hungry. 

But as the conflict intensifies, the scale of Mahmud’s project expands to include a hospital the IDF alleges tob e a Hamas stronghold.

His brother Hani supports the operation from the U.S. by collecting donations. From thousands of miles away he tries everything he can keep his younger brother safe. 

But after Mahmud’s death, Hani wonders: Did I inadvertantly deliver my brother? 

The podcast team can be reached at GazaChef@zeit.de.

CREDITS 

Reporting, Script and Presentation: Yassin Musharbash.

Editor: Tim Howard 

Story-telling consultant: Britta Stuff 

Producer: Pia Rauschenberger and Markus Gläser 

Title theme: Joscha Grunewald, based on an idea by Yassin Musharbash. 

Sound design: Tim Howard, with material by Joscha Grunewald, Tim Howard and Blue Dot Sessions. 

Additional sound design: Christian Küker, Pool Artists. 

Recording, editing and post-production: Markus Gläser of Die Zeit and Christian Küker, Pool Artists. 

The Fact-checking: Luisa Hommerich

Additional research and translations: Suha Ma’ay‘a and Firas Halasseh

]]> #2 The Sky in Flames DIE ZEIT 00:41:19 The Gaza Soup Kitchen wouldn’t exist without Mahmud’s brother Hani, who is supporting the operation from the U.S. After the fatal attack on his brother Hani wonders, did he unwittingly endanger Mahmud? The Gaza Soup Kitchen wouldn’t exist without Mahmud’s brother Hani, who is supporting the operation from the U.S. After the fatal attack on his brother Hani wonders, did he unwittingly endanger Mahmud? false full 2 1 2e476b26-6f3b-406d-be35-4f52439b2d9e #1 Chef Mahmud – Death of a Source Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:31:11 +0000 podcast@zeit.de (DIE ZEIT) https://the-gaza-chef.simplecast.com/episodes/chef-mahmud-death-of-a-source-RnpiBu2u Mahmud Almadhoun ran a soup kitchen in the North of the Gaza Strip, feeding hundreds of families every day in the midst of war and famine. In November 2024, he is killed by a projectile from the sky as he is leaving his home. In our new investigative podcast The Gaza Chef, DIE ZEIT’s Yassin Musharbash attempts to reconstruct why Mahmud Almadhoun had to die. Was he in contact with terrorists? Was it a case of mistaken identity, a mistake of some sort?

The investigations leads us to a hospital said to be a Hamas stronghold, shows us the inner workings of a target room of the Israeli army – and also tries to answer the question of how journalists can investigate even if they can’t be on the scene. 

The podcast team can be reached at GazaChef@zeit.de.

CREDITS 

Reporting, Script and Presentation: Yassin Musharbash.

Editor: Tim Howard 

Story-telling consultant: Britta Stuff 

Producer: Pia Rauschenberger and Markus Gläser 

Title theme: Joscha Grunewald, based on an idea by Yassin Musharbash. 

Sound design: Tim Howard, with material by Joscha Grunewald, Tim Howard and Blue Dot Sessions. 

Additional sound design: Christian Küker, Pool Artists. 

Recording, editing and post-production: Markus Gläser of Die Zeit and Christian Küker, Pool Artists. 

The Fact-checking: Luisa Hommerich

Additional research and translations: Suha Ma’ay‘a and Firas Halasseh

]]> #1 Chef Mahmud – Death of a Source DIE ZEIT 00:25:37 For our reporter, the chef of a soup kitchen in Gaza is an important contact on the ground. But then he is killed. Did the Israeli Army believe he was a terrorist? For our reporter, the chef of a soup kitchen in Gaza is an important contact on the ground. But then he is killed. Did the Israeli Army believe he was a terrorist? false full 1 1 b98acbc4-7623-48e2-84b8-8b0503b1e322 Trailer Mon, 6 Jul 2026 08:27:12 +0000 podcast@zeit.de (DIE ZEIT) https://the-gaza-chef.simplecast.com/episodes/trailer-laqrrKxA Trailer DIE ZEIT 00:02:06 false trailer 1