SOFREP Morning Brief: US-Backed Group Proposes to Take Over Gaza Aid Distribution, Russia and China Condemn Trump’s “Golden Dome” Missile Defense Plan

Kick off your Friday with SOFREP’s morning brief, featuring key defense and global affairs stories for May 9, 2025. Here’s a quick glance at today’s headlines: A US-backed group wants to take over Gaza aid from the UN, sparking backlash. The European Union may review its trade deal with Israel over Gaza. Amnesty says the United Arab Emirates supplied Chinese weapons to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces. A judge awarded $680K to Hawaii families over a US Navy fuel leak. The Pentagon is removing transgender troops under Trump’s ban. Russia and China slammed Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense plan. India and Pakistan escalated their conflict with deadly drone strikes and cross-border attacks.

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US-Backed Group Proposes to Take Over Gaza Aid Distribution from UN

A new Geneva-registered organization led by American ex-military officers, security contractors, and aid officials is proposing to take over humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza, sidelining the United Nations and other established international agencies.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) outlined its plans in a 14-page proposal obtained by the Associated Press.

The plan would create a centralized aid distribution system modeled on Israeli designs and operated with private security, aiming to meet Israeli demands for greater control over aid flows. Israel has blocked humanitarian supplies to Gaza for over 10 weeks, citing security concerns and alleged aid diversion by Hamas, claims the UN denies.

GHF proposes four secure distribution hubs, each serving 300,000 people, with eventual scale-up to support up to 2 million. Supplies such as food, water, hygiene kits, and blankets would be delivered using armored convoys.

The foundation’s leadership includes 10 named individuals, including former UN World Food Program Director David Beasley, though his role remains unconfirmed.

🚨NEW | The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — For Aid and Occupation

A newly formed and U.S.-backed private foundation forms the backbone of Israel’s new plan to control all humanitarian aid entering Gaza—68 days into a total siege that has driven the territory into… pic.twitter.com/aX3YaFmwwO

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) May 8, 2025

The Trump administration reportedly supports the initiative.

Humanitarian groups and UN officials have voiced strong concerns. Critics say the plan would forcibly relocate civilians around aid hubs, fail to meet the scale of humanitarian need, and undermine neutrality.

The UN and other aid organizations argue the proposal could “weaponize aid” and serve military or political goals. They warn that the system could set a dangerous precedent of using siege tactics to displace populations and dismantle existing international humanitarian frameworks.

Despite being pitched as independent, GHF’s proposal aligns closely with Israeli demands and includes personnel with links to private security companies that have operated in conflict zones, including Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor. Aid groups say the plan lacks logistical viability and transparency, and fear it may lead to further depopulation and instability in the region.

European Union to Review Trade Pact with Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns

European Union (EU) foreign ministers will formally discuss a review of the EU’s trade agreement with Israel on May 20, citing deep concerns over Israel’s blockade of Gaza and its ongoing military offensive. The discussion stems from increasing frustration among member states over the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.

The EU-Israel Association Agreement, in force since 2000, conditions bilateral ties on respect for human rights and democratic principles. Several EU members, including the Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia, argue that Israel’s actions in Gaza may violate these terms.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp stated that the current Israeli conduct “warrants a serious review,” and confirmed the Netherlands will block any renewal of the pact pending further examination.

On Thursday, humanitarian concerns escalated after aid agencies shut down community soup kitchens in Gaza due to depleted supplies and Israel’s continued restriction of humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military announced plans to “expand and intensify” operations in the territory.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledged that the bloc is sharply divided over its stance on the conflict. While Austria, Germany, and Hungary remain supportive of Israel, other member states have pushed for stronger action in defense of Palestinian civilians and international law.

Kallas noted that consensus may be difficult: “You know very well that on certain issues we have very divergent views.”

Despite limited leverage over Israel, several ministers stressed the urgency of a unified EU response.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon condemned the situation as a “clear violation of international and humanitarian law,” while Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares emphasized that Europe “must raise its voice” and reject the displacement of Palestinians.

Whether the May 20 meeting will result in concrete action remains uncertain.

Amnesty: Chinese Weapons via UAE Supplied to Sudan’s Paramilitaries Amid Rising Drone Attacks

Amnesty International reported Thursday that Chinese-made weapons, re-exported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been used by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in violation of a United Nations arms embargo, further fueling a civil war now in its third year.

The rights group identified Chinese GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers in RSF operations in Darfur and during the fall of Khartoum in March. Video and photo evidence formed the basis of the findings.

According to Amnesty, the UAE is the only known importer of the AH-4 system, based on a 2019 deal reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Sophisticated Chinese weaponry, likely provided by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been identified in Sudan, demonstrating a clear breach of the UN arms embargo, Amnesty International said in a report released on Thursday.https://t.co/YjzHWHCICN pic.twitter.com/7Z5ZYbzxeM

— Sudan Tribune (@SudanTribune_EN) May 8, 2025

The UAE has repeatedly denied arming the RSF, despite growing evidence cited by the UN, US officials, and watchdog organizations. The Sudanese military government cut ties with the UAE earlier this week, directly accusing it of supplying the RSF with the advanced weapons now being used in drone strikes.

While Amnesty’s report focused on ground-based weaponry, it coincides with an escalation in long-range RSF drone attacks on army-held areas.

On Thursday, drones hit Port Sudan’s main naval base, the southern cities of Kosti and Tendelti, and Omdurman, where two girls were killed, according to Doctors Without Borders.

The RSF has intensified its drone campaign since losing most of Khartoum in March. Air defenses reportedly shot down 15 drones over Port Sudan overnight. The city, previously a humanitarian hub, has come under repeated RSF strikes targeting its airport, fuel depots, and power stations, displacing civilians and endangering aid operations.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the escalating attacks would “further complicate aid operations” and worsen humanitarian needs.

Port Sudan had hosted hundreds of thousands of displaced people and UN offices before becoming a target.

Sudan’s army said its anti-aircraft systems intercepted drones targeting the country’s largest naval base in the wartime capital Port Sudan https://t.co/ZEfNJFpxWP pic.twitter.com/jiRpZ9NQ28

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 7, 2025

Sudan remains divided, with the army controlling the north, center, and east, while the RSF holds Darfur and parts of the south. More than 13 million people have been displaced, and tens of thousands killed since the war began following the 2021 coup and the collapse of power-sharing agreements.

Federal Judge Awards $680K to Families Sickened by Navy Jet Fuel Leak in Hawaii

A US federal judge has awarded more than $680,000 to 17 families exposed to contaminated drinking water following a 2021 jet fuel leak at the US Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility near Pearl Harbor.

The ruling sets a legal precedent for over 7,500 additional claims still pending.

US District Judge Leslie Kobayashi issued the decision Wednesday, with individual awards ranging from $5,000 to over $104,000—far below the $225,000 to $1.25 million sought by plaintiffs’ attorneys. The judge acknowledged the plausibility of the health effects but cited insufficient evidence to prove direct causation.

The 17 plaintiffs served as bellwethers, selected to represent the broader group of military families, service members, and civilians impacted by the fuel spill.

Attorney Kristina Baehr criticized the modest awards but emphasized the significance of the court recognizing the government’s accountability.

The US Navy had admitted liability prior to the trial but contested whether the exposure levels were sufficient to cause the reported symptoms, which included rashes, vomiting, seizures, asthma, and other chronic issues.

The contamination stemmed from a May 2021 fuel leak at Red Hill, where a ruptured pipe released over 20,000 gallons of jet fuel into a fire suppression line. The fuel remained hidden for months until a mishap in November led it to enter the water system, affecting 90,000 residents at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

A subsequent Navy investigation found multiple failures in emergency response, delayed reporting to health authorities, and inaccurate assurances that the water was safe despite a lack of testing.

Public backlash forced the military to shut down Red Hill’s massive underground tanks, which were fully drained in 2024. The legal battle continues as thousands of remaining claims await resolution.

Pentagon Begins Removal of Transgender Troops Under Trump Ban

The US military will immediately begin separating transgender service members following a Supreme Court ruling that allows President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender military service to take effect while legal challenges continue.

In a Thursday memo, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the military services to start processing approximately 1,000 transgender troops who had self-identified for voluntary separation before March 26, 2025. Those who do not leave voluntarily will face involuntary discharge beginning June 6 for active-duty personnel and June 7 for reservists.

According to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, these troops are part of a broader group of 4,240 currently serving service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria as of late last year.

“The Military Departments will initiate involuntary separation processes” after the self-identification window closes, the Pentagon memo stated.

President Trump issued an executive order on January 27 banning transgender individuals from serving, claiming that “expressing a false ‘gender identity’ divergent from an individual’s sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service.”

Following the order, a February Pentagon directive outlined that transgender individuals currently serving would be removed unless granted a waiver on a case-by-case basis. It also reaffirmed the prohibition on transgender enlistment.

BREAKING: A 6-3 Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration’s ban on transgender military service members to take effect while it’s being challenged. Sotomayor, Kagan & Jackson dissent. #SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/OwpjPs7zt1

— Katie Buehler (@bykatiebuehler) May 6, 2025

The decision marks another major policy shift for transgender Americans in the armed forces. Previous Democratic administrations had permitted open service, while the Trump administration has taken steps to exclude transgender personnel entirely.

The removals begin under ongoing legal scrutiny, but with Supreme Court clearance for implementation during litigation, the Pentagon is moving forward with the purge.

Russia and China Condemn Trump’s “Golden Dome” Missile Defense Plan

Russia and China issued a joint statement Thursday denouncing US President Donald Trump’s newly announced missile defense initiative, calling it “deeply destabilizing” and a step toward militarizing space.

The proposal, described by Trump as an “Iron Dome for America” or “Golden Dome,” aims to counter ballistic and hypersonic missile threats, reviving elements of Ronald Reagan’s 1980s “Star Wars” program that envisioned space-based missile interceptors.

Following talks in Moscow, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping warned the plan risks turning space into a battlefield.

“The program explicitly provides for a significant strengthening of the arsenal for conducting combat operations in space,” their statement read.

Both countries pledged to open talks to prevent the deployment of weapons in space and oppose efforts to establish military dominance there.

The US system draws inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome, which is designed to intercept short-range rockets. However, the threats facing the US include more advanced missile technologies, such as Russia’s “Oreshnik” hypersonic missile and China’s expanding capabilities, according to the US National Defense Strategy.

Tensions over space militarization have escalated in recent years, with Washington and Moscow trading accusations over weaponizing orbit.

India-Pakistan Military Escalation Intensifies with Drone Strikes and Cross-Border Fire

India launched Israeli-made Harop attack drones into Pakistan on Thursday, targeting air defense systems and escalating a deadly exchange between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

Pakistan’s military said the strikes killed at least two civilians and wounded others. India claimed it repelled Pakistani attempts to strike its military installations.

The latest round of hostilities follows India’s missile strikes in Pakistan a day earlier that reportedly killed 31 civilians. India said it was retaliating for a militant attack in India-controlled Kashmir that left over two dozen, mostly Hindu, tourists dead. New Delhi blames Pakistan for the attack; Islamabad denies involvement.

Tensions have surged along the disputed Kashmir border. Pakistan claimed it shot down 29 Indian drones and killed 40–50 Indian soldiers in retaliatory fire—claims India has not confirmed.

Explosions, blackouts, and air raid sirens were reported in Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Punjab. Pakistan also reported drone debris landing in civilian areas, including near Lahore and Rawalpindi.

India’s Defense Ministry said it targeted air defense radars in multiple Pakistani cities. Meanwhile, Islamabad rejected Indian allegations of cross-border missile attacks, calling them “unfounded” and “propaganda.” Pakistani officials accused India of killing civilians, including worshippers at a Sikh temple in Kashmir, while denying accusations of launching attacks on Indian cities like Amritsar.

Both nations ordered blackouts and evacuated thousands from border regions. Flights were suspended across more than two dozen airports in India; Pakistan resumed operations after a temporary halt at four airfields.

The US called for de-escalation, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking to top diplomats from both countries. The rapid military buildup, inflammatory rhetoric, and civilian casualties have raised fears of another full-scale conflict over the long-disputed region of Kashmir.

Sources: News Agencies