SOFREP Evening Brief: US Urges Israel to Allow Gaza Aid, Ukraine Offers Minerals for Military Support

Here’s your evening briefing from SOFREP, your essential defense and global affairs updates for Wednesday, April 30, 2025: The US told the World Court Israel must let aid into Gaza, but doesn’t have to use UNRWA. Iran executed a man accused of helping Mossad kill an IRGC colonel. Somalia banned Taiwanese passport holders over Somaliland ties. The Red Cross is evacuating Congolese troops from rebel-held Goma. Migrants are now being charged for entering a new US military border zone. The Trump administration will label two Haitian gangs as terrorist groups. Ukraine is trading mineral access for US military aid. A German aide was charged with spying for China. China lifted sanctions on EU lawmakers. Pakistan warned India of “a possible, imminent” attack.

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US Tells World Court Israel Must Allow Aid to Gaza, But Not Through UNRWA

The United States told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday that Israel has a legal obligation to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza but is not required to cooperate with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

The statement came during a week-long session in The Hague as the top UN court reviews Israel’s responsibilities in occupied Palestinian territories following a request from the UN General Assembly.

Josh Simmons, legal advisor for the US State Department, argued that Israel’s security concerns regarding UNRWA were valid and emphasized that no law requires Israel to permit aid delivery from specific organizations that could compromise its security. He added that other agencies could replace UNRWA in delivering critical services.

Israel banned UNRWA operations in Gaza in January, accusing 19 staff members of involvement in the October 7 Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel.

UNRWA dismissed nine employees and launched an internal investigation, though the evidence presented by Israel has not been corroborated. Israel has since alleged links between Hamas and dozens of other UNRWA personnel but has provided no public proof.

Israel did not attend the hearings but submitted written arguments. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denounced the case earlier this week, accusing the UN and international legal institutions of trying to strip Israel of its right to self-defense.

In contrast, Russia defended UNRWA’s role, calling it vital to Palestinian survival and even suggesting the agency deserved a Nobel Peace Prize.

“Gaza balances on the brink of famine,” said Russian foreign affairs representative Maksim Musikhin, citing the destruction of hospitals and ongoing humanitarian collapse across Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

The ICJ hearings are unfolding as Gaza’s humanitarian infrastructure collapses. Israel has blocked aid, including food and medicine, since March 2 and resumed its military operations on March 18 after breaking a ceasefire. The Israeli military now controls large areas of Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages.

Iran Executes Alleged Mossad Agent Linked to 2022 Assassination of IRGC Colonel

Iran executed a man on Wednesday accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad and aiding in the 2022 assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, according to state media.

The IRNA news agency identified the man as Mohsen Langarneshin, who was hanged after being convicted by Iran’s Revolutionary Court. Authorities claimed he was a “senior spy” who provided technical support for Khodaei’s killing and facilitated operations for Israeli intelligence.

Khodaei, a senior officer in the IRGC’s Quds Force, was gunned down outside his Tehran residence in May 2022 by two assailants on a motorcycle—a hallmark of past covert Israeli operations targeting Iran’s military and nuclear program.

According to the report, Mossad allegedly recruited Langarneshin in 2020 and met with him in Georgia and Nepal. Iranian authorities said he later arranged safe houses in multiple cities, including Isfahan. In January 2023, Isfahan was the site of a drone attack on a military facility that Tehran also blamed on Israel.

Langarneshin allegedly confessed during closed-door proceedings in Iran’s Revolutionary Court—a judicial body known for harsh sentences and limited legal transparency. Trials in the court often feature court-appointed attorneys and prohibit media access.

Iranian state outlets said Khodaei was part of the Quds Force’s overseas operations and referred to him as a “defender of the shrine,” a term used for IRGC personnel deployed in Syria and Iraq to combat ISIS and other armed groups.

This execution underscores Iran’s escalating tensions with Israel amid a broader regional shadow war involving cyber attacks, assassinations, and sabotage campaigns linked to nuclear and military targets.

Somalia Bans Taiwanese Travelers Amid Diplomatic Clash Over Somaliland Ties

Somalia has imposed an entry ban on Taiwanese passport holders in response to what it calls a violation of its sovereignty by Taiwan, Somali officials confirmed Wednesday.

The move follows Taiwan’s strengthening of diplomatic ties with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region that Somalia claims as its own.

Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi told The Associated Press that the decision came after Taiwan “opened unapproved offices,” without specifying which ones. Taiwan has maintained formal ties with Somaliland since 2020 and appointed a new envoy to the region in February.

According to a Somali civil aviation official, a directive was issued to all airlines on April 22 barring passengers with Taiwanese passports from entering, transiting through, or departing from Somalia. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly.

Taiwan has not publicly responded to Somalia’s entry ban, though Somali officials said the island nation has issued a reciprocal restriction on Somali citizens. This tit-for-tat ban underscores rising diplomatic friction over Somaliland’s status and Taiwan’s broader efforts to maintain international recognition.

Taiwanese passport holders can no longer enter Somalia. Taipei is accusing Beijing of coercing other countries into isolating Taiwan diplomatically. pic.twitter.com/YtAaEL3xqn

— TaiwanPlus News (@taiwanplusnews) April 30, 2025

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia over three decades ago but has not received recognition from the African Union (AU) or the UN. Somalia continues to assert its territorial claims over the region and has objected to any foreign diplomatic presence there.

China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and pressures countries to sever ties with Taipei, praised Somalia’s move.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing “highly commends Somalia’s commitment to the one-China principle,” and described the travel ban as a “legitimate measure” to protect Somali sovereignty.

Taiwan, which has only one diplomatic ally in Africa—Eswatini—has faced growing pressure from China to isolate it on the international stage. Since 2016, China has sharply reduced official contact with Taiwan and stepped up efforts to undermine Taipei’s foreign partnerships, particularly in strategically significant regions like the Horn of Africa.

Red Cross Transfers Stranded Congolese Troops and Families From Rebel-Held Goma to Capital

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has begun transferring hundreds of stranded Congolese soldiers, police officers, and their families from the rebel-controlled city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the capital, Kinshasa.

The operation comes after months of tension following the January advance of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who captured the strategic city of Goma.

The soldiers and police had been sheltering at the UN Stabilization Mission’s base in Goma after being disarmed. The transfer was arranged through an agreement between the Congolese government, the M23 rebels, the UN mission, and the ICRC, which is serving as a neutral intermediary.

Upon arrival in Kinshasa, Congolese authorities will receive the personnel and their families.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has launched a major humanitarian operation to repatriate hundreds of Congolese soldiers and police officers, along with their families, from the city of Goma to Kinshasa.
These individuals had sought refuge at the MONUSCO base… pic.twitter.com/vJjVWrxTUs

— KT Press Rwanda (@ktpressrwanda) April 30, 2025

The ICRC said the operation would take several days to complete, with the journey spanning over 1,600 kilometers (roughly 1,000 miles). No media were allowed to film or photograph the operation due to security concerns.

Migrants Face New Criminal Charges for Entering Military Defense Zone Along US-Mexico Border

Immigrants recently detained in southern New Mexico are now being charged with breaching a newly designated national defense area along the US-Mexico border, following a decision by the Trump administration to hand military oversight of the zone to the US Army.

The move effectively turns a 170-mile corridor into a federally protected military buffer zone treated as an extension of Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

Federal prosecutors filed the first charges Monday under the new designation, marking a shift in how border incursions are handled. US Attorney Ryan Ellison signed off on the initial cases against at least six migrants accused of unauthorized entry onto military defense property.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the operational changes during a visit to the region last week.

“Any illegal [attempt] to enter that zone is entering a military base — a federally protected area. You will be detained. You will be interdicted by US troops and border patrol working together,” said Hegseth.

The charges follow a presidential order in mid-April that transferred control of the Roosevelt Reservation—a 60-foot-wide strip of federal land that runs along much of the southern border—from the Interior Department to the Defense Department. Additional lands beyond the reservation are also being transferred for military oversight.

Under this arrangement, US Army personnel now have authority to interdict and temporarily detain individuals crossing into the defense area. The Trump administration argues this falls under the military purpose doctrine, a narrow exception to the Posse Comitatus Act, which otherwise bars the use of troops for civilian law enforcement within the US.

Critics, including the ACLU, warn the move sets a dangerous precedent.

“This represents a dangerous erosion of the constitutional principle that the military should not be policing civilians,” said ACLU New Mexico attorney Rebecca Sheff.

She also raised concerns that US citizens living near the zone could be caught up in enforcement under the same legal provisions.

The US Army has since expanded operations along the corridor, announcing deployments to enhance surveillance capabilities, improve infrastructure, and fortify border barriers.

The new policy signals an escalation in the administration’s use of military resources for border enforcement and raises fresh questions about civil liberties and the future role of the military in domestic security.

Trump Administration Moves to Designate Haitian Gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

The Trump administration has notified Congress of its intent to designate two powerful Haitian gangs—Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif—as foreign terrorist organizations, marking a significant escalation in US policy against organized crime groups operating in the Western Hemisphere.

The move, confirmed by congressional sources, comes amid the administration’s broader campaign to treat transnational criminal gangs with the same legal tools used against groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

The designation, once finalized, will carry sanctions and criminal penalties for anyone providing material support to the groups.

It builds on Trump’s recent designation of six Latin American crime syndicates, including MS-13 and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, as foreign terror organizations.

Speaking at a Michigan rally Tuesday, Trump said the classification “lets us do a lot of things that you wouldn’t be able to do” under existing law.

The administration is invoking the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century wartime law that grants sweeping presidential authority to detain or deport noncitizens without traditional due process if deemed threats. This legal strategy is already being used to deport Venezuelan migrants to detention centers in El Salvador.

🇺🇸 The #Trump administration has informed Congress of its plan to label #Haitian #gangs as foreign #terrorist organisations, sources said. The move, mirroring recent designations of eight Latin American crime groups, aims to pressure gangs operating in the #US. pic.twitter.com/npt9xeRHjX

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) April 30, 2025

Viv Ansanm, or “Living Together,” is a gang coalition formed in September 2023 that has launched coordinated attacks across Port-au-Prince since early 2024. The group is responsible for shutting down the capital’s airport, breaking into major prisons to free inmates, and forcing the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The coalition includes two of Haiti’s most violent gangs, G-9 and G-Pèp.

Gran Grif, also known as the Savien gang, is part of Viv Ansanm and dominates Haiti’s central Artibonite region. Led by Luckson Elan, known as “General Luckson,” the group was behind the October 2024 Pont-Sondé massacre, which killed over 70 people, and another recent attack that claimed the life of an 11-year-old child.

Gran Grif traces its origins to former Haitian MP Prophane Victor, who armed young men in Artibonite. Victor was sanctioned by Canada and the US and arrested in January 2024.

Ukraine Offers US Access to Strategic Minerals in Exchange for Continued Military Aid

Ukraine is finalizing a deal with the US to provide access to its rare earth minerals in exchange for sustained American military aid, Ukrainian officials confirmed Wednesday.

Kyiv views the agreement as critical to securing long-term US support in its war against Russia.

Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko traveled to Washington to help finalize the deal, which Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal described as a “strategic investment partnership.”

The agreement would give the US access to over 20 strategically important resources, including titanium, uranium, lithium, graphite, and manganese—key materials for aerospace, nuclear energy, and electric vehicle production.

President Donald Trump previously made US access to these resources a condition for future military assistance, arguing it would act as reimbursement for prior US support. Talks were delayed after tense negotiations, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated Wednesday the Trump administration is ready to sign once final details are resolved.

The latest version of the deal would establish a 10-year equal partnership fund. Only future US military aid would count toward Washington’s share of the investment. The updated terms are designed to align with Ukraine’s efforts to join the European Union and address concerns that earlier drafts were overly favorable to the US.

The Ukrainian Cabinet must approve the final text before the agreement is signed, after which Ukraine’s Parliament would need to ratify it.

The minerals agreement comes as efforts to reach a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine remain deadlocked. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed conditional support for peace talks but wants “questions answered” before committing to a 30-day truce. Russia insists that a halt to Ukraine’s mobilization and Western arms shipments is a pre-requisite.

Trump, frustrated by the slow pace of diplomacy, has criticized both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned this week that the US could withdraw from mediation efforts if neither side delivers concrete proposals soon.

Western leaders accuse Putin of stalling for battlefield advantage. Russia now occupies nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory. Moscow claims Ukraine’s truce interest stems from military setbacks.

German Aide to Far-Right Lawmaker Charged with Spying for China

German authorities have charged a former aide to a far-right European Parliament lawmaker with espionage on behalf of Chinese intelligence, in a case that raises fresh concerns about Beijing’s infiltration of Western political institutions.

Federal prosecutors identified the suspect as Jian G., a German citizen of Chinese descent, who worked for Maximilian Krah, a prominent figure in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Jian Guo, as previously named by Krah, allegedly passed sensitive European Parliament information to Chinese intelligence services from September 2019 until his arrest in April 2024.

Guo reportedly handed over more than 500 classified documents, including material marked as particularly sensitive by the European Parliament. He also surveilled Chinese dissidents in Germany and collected intelligence on high-ranking AfD politicians. Prosecutors said Guo had been employed by Chinese intelligence since 2002.

Another suspect, Yaqi X., a Chinese national working in logistics, was also charged. She allegedly provided Guo with information on cargo, passengers, and military equipment transiting through Leipzig Airport, including data tied to a German arms manufacturer.

China’s foreign ministry has denied the allegations, dismissing similar reports across Europe as politically motivated.

The case adds to growing scrutiny of the AfD, which has faced criticism for its ties to authoritarian regimes and controversial rhetoric. Krah, who was AfD’s lead candidate in last year’s European Parliament elections, denied wrongdoing but was later banned by the party from further EU campaigning. The move came after he publicly downplayed the war crimes of Nazi SS units in comments to an Italian newspaper.

Despite the scandal, Krah secured a Bundestag seat earlier this year, part of a historic election showing for the AfD, which finished second nationally. While the party has gained traction, mainstream German parties have so far upheld a political “firewall,” refusing to cooperate with the AfD.

China Lifts Sanctions on EU Lawmakers Amid Easing Tensions Over Uyghur Dispute

China has lifted sanctions on five European Union lawmakers it had blacklisted in 2021 in retaliation for the EU’s condemnation of Beijing’s human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, the European Parliament confirmed Wednesday.

The sanctions were originally imposed after the EU, alongside the US, Britain, and Canada, levied coordinated sanctions on Chinese officials over the mass detention and alleged abuse of Uyghurs.

In response, Beijing banned five European lawmakers—Michael Gahler, Raphael Glucksmann, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Miriam Lexmann, and Reinhard Butikofer—from entering Chinese territory. The retaliatory move froze diplomatic dialogue and stalled ratification of an EU-China investment agreement.

The decision to lift the sanctions followed direct negotiations led by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. It comes as Brussels and Beijing seek to de-escalate tensions following President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes on April 2, which have shifted global economic alignments.

“Our relationship with China remains complex and multi-faceted. The best way to approach it is through engagement and dialogue,” Metsola said in a statement to senior EU lawmakers. However, she and other senior members emphasized that lifting the sanctions does not signal complacency.

The Parliament, they said, remains committed to defending human rights and addressing ongoing issues in EU-China relations.

The underlying dispute stems from China’s treatment of the Uyghurs—a Turkic, Muslim-majority population native to the Xinjiang region. Western governments and rights organizations accuse Beijing of orchestrating a campaign of mass internment, forced labor, and cultural suppression—actions that some governments have formally labeled genocide.

While this diplomatic breakthrough marks a thaw in relations, lawmakers made clear that human rights will remain a core sticking point in future EU-China engagement.

Pakistan Warns of Imminent Indian Attack as Border Tensions Escalate

Pakistan on Wednesday warned that it has “credible intelligence” indicating India plans to launch military action within 24 to 36 hours, amid rising tensions following a deadly militant attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Islamabad vowed to respond “very strongly” if attacked, as both nations exchange gunfire and implement tit-for-tat diplomatic and security measures.

The warning follows India’s accusation that Pakistan backed the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, mostly Indian tourists. A previously unknown militant group, calling itself the Kashmir Resistance, claimed responsibility. India considers the group part of Pakistan-supported terrorism, while Islamabad denies involvement and frames the unrest as a local separatist movement.

Indian officials, speaking anonymously, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given military commanders full operational freedom to choose the timing and scope of retaliation.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized that Islamabad would not initiate conflict but warned that any escalation would be met with force. Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif reinforced the message: “We are ready—don’t test it.”

As tensions escalate, New Delhi has ordered all Pakistani nationals without medical exemptions to leave the country. The deadline passed Sunday, but many, including families, are still being deported or rushing to exit via the Attari border crossing.

Diplomatic relations have further deteriorated with the cancellation of visas, expulsion of diplomats, and suspension of key bilateral agreements—including a crucial water-sharing treaty.

India closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft until May 23, prompting Pakistan to shut its airspace to Indian airlines in response. These moves mark the sharpest diplomatic and security breakdown between the nuclear-armed neighbors since their near-war following the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing.

Sources: News Agencies