Israel-Hamas War: What happened on Day 130?

War cabinet minister Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot should object to the government's plan to lengthen IDF mandatory and reserve service since it continues to grant an exemption to Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men, opposition leader MK Yair Lapid said in a press conference on Tuesday evening.

"There cannot be those who are equal, and those who are more equal … the state must behave like a state and create a clear connection between rights and obligations. Whoever does not enlist [in the army], should not receive funding," Lapid said.

The statement came after the government published its plan to lengthen IDF service last week, both because of the growing number of casualties in the war and because of the need to enlarge the army in order to meet the heightened security situation. The main tenets of the plan are that mandatory service will be lengthened to three years; the age of reservist exception will rise from 40 to 45; the age of exemption for reservist officers will rise to 50; and the number of mandatory reserve duty days per year will double.

The plan does not include drafting haredi men into the army.

"It cannot be that two former chiefs of staff [Gantz and Eisenkot] will stand by while hundreds of thousands of young haredim that the army needs remain exempt," Lapid added.

Also, on Tuesday evening, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi called for a "reexamination of prior realities" regarding sharing the burden of IDF service.

"In these challenging times, one thing is very clear - everyone should do their part to protect our home. This is a different time, and prior realities should be reexamined," Halevi said.

He added that "the IDF has always sought to integrate all parts of Israeli society among its ranks. This war demonstrates the need for change. To join the service, to protect our home. We have a historic opportunity to expand the IDF’s recruitment sources at a time when the necessity is very high. We will know how to produce the solutions and the right conditions for every population that will join this noble mission."

Hamas is returning to power in northern Gaza, IDF Col. (res.) Hezi Nachman said in an interview with 103FM Tuesday morning, adding that the Israeli military isn't doing enough to stop it.

Speaking to Ben Caspit and Yinon Magal, Nachman, the former head of the Menashe Brigade, was discussing a letter to the war cabinet he and several other IDF commanders signed calling on Gazans not to be allowed to return home in the North until the hostages come home.

"We are a forum of 150 officers from all sides of the political spectrum with a very simple demand," he explained. "A directive was received to evacuate northern Gaza at the beginning of the war, and we demand that this evacuation be completed, and clearly state that no one be allowed to return home until the hostages are returned and Hamas is completely destroyed."

He explained that this was never fully achieved.

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated that the laws surrounding conscription for the army in Israel should change such that all members of Israeli society are called up to defend the country.

Halevi's comments came during a Tuesday tour of the south of the country.

"In these challenging days, one thing is very clear - everyone needs to contribute to defending the home," Halevi said. "This is a different period. What was before it should indeed be re-evaluated."

The leader of Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Tuesday that the group had been able to prevent Israeli-linked ships from passing through the Gulf of Aden over the past week.

"This is a real victory," Abdul Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech.

The armed wing of Hamas, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades, seized an Israeli “Skylark” drone, the Islamist terror organization stated on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.

According to Hamas, the drone was seized while on an intelligence mission in the Gaza City neighborhood of Zeitoun.

The Hamas announcement came days after Hezbollah announced that it had seized an Israeli Skylark drone over Lebanese air space "in good condition."

The Skylark is a small UAV generally employed for surveillance and intelligence collection. It is produced by the weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.

Reuters contributed to this report.

The United States does not have any information indicating the American hostages held in Gaza are not alive, the White House said on Tuesday.

Israel has recovered a video from the last few days of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar seen in a tunnel under Gaza's Khan Yunis, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.

Walla, citing Channel 13's Or Heller, noted that Sinwar was captured on film by a camera installed by Hamas. The IDF has reportedly been operating in that tunnel over the previous days.

According to Maariv, the video shows Sinwar surrounded by his family and children. 

Sinwar's first appearance since October 7

The video reportedly marks the Hamas leader's first appearance since the start of the war on October 7. In December, the IDF released a video of Sinwar's brother driving through a tunnel in Gaza.

Maariv further noted that the video reveals that Sinwar is in good physical condition, without injuries. 

This is a developing story.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly given Israel's delegation in Cairo "limited space to maneuver" in talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, Israeli media reported on Tuesday evening.

The Israeli delegation, headed by Mossad director David Barnea and Shin Bet director Ronan Bar, landed in Cairo for hostage negotiations on Tuesday morning.

According to the reports, the talks are already underway and are being attended by Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani, the head of Egyptian intelligence, and CIA director Bill Burns.

IDF Lt.-Gen. Nitzan Alon, the Israeli military's representative for hostage release talks, was not among the list of Israeli officials in Cairo, despite earlier reports claiming he was part of the delegation.

David Barnea, the head of the Israeli Mossad attends an honour guard ceremony for Israel's incoming military chief Herzi Halevi at Israel's Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel January 16, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

Netanyahu sends confidant to Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo

One official who did make the plane was the prime minister's foreign policy adviser, Ophir Falk, as per Israeli media reports.

According to reports, an internal assessment suggests that, through Falk, Netanyahu is looking to ensure Israel fails to make a "concrete" step forward as part of the talks in Cairo.

This is a developing story.

South Africa said on Tuesday it had asked the World Court to consider whether Israel's plan to extend its offensive in Gaza into the city of Rafah requires additional emergency measures to protect Palestinians' rights.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its troops from committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in a case brought by South Africa.

Israel has denied all allegations of genocide in connection with its war against Gaza's ruling Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and asked the court to reject the case outright, saying it respects international law and has a right to defend itself.

Israel has recovered documentation from the last few days of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar seen in a tunnel under Gaza's Khan Yunis, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.

This is a developing story.