Gaza culinary academy reopens after two bombings

A culinary academy in Gaza City has reopened after being bombed twice during earlier rounds of fighting. The facility now offers training to men and women seeking skills in food preparation and service. The academy closed for three years after the most recent bombing at the start of the current war. It resumed operations earlier this year with new equipment.

Training continues despite shortages Students work in kitchens under instructor supervision, wearing white chef hats and jackets marked with Palestinian flags. Instructors report improvising lessons because of limited supplies and high costs for electricity and fuel.

Aid shipments have increased since an October 2025 ceasefire, but many goods remain expensive. Israel controls all entry points and restricts certain items it says could be used for weapons.

Students seek skills for future work One student who previously ran an online clothing business said she joined the program after displacement and plans to expand a new food service venture. Some participants hope to earn an international certificate from the World Chefs organization in Paris.

The UN reports that at least 1.6 million of Gaza's 2.1 million residents face high levels of acute food insecurity. Gaza produces only a fraction of the food it needs, and the UN food agency states that 75 percent of former cropland has been damaged or destroyed since October 2023.

Israeli attacks have continued on an almost daily basis despite the ceasefire, leaving employment prospects uncertain for graduates.