Israel-Hamas War: What happened on Day 130?

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan’s strongly implied threat to bring war crimes charges against Israelis if the IDF invades Rafah, as well as for its general conduct of the ongoing war, could be the most dramatic war crimes moment for Israel to date.

There was no public hearing yet, the word genocide was not used, and Israeli officials did not publicly respond.

This left his statement swallowed up and mainly ignored by Israeli media coverage of the hostage rescue. But anyone who ignores Khan’s threat simply does not understand the power and influence of the ICC.

Large parts of Israel and the world followed the International Court of Justice with bated breath last month during the public hearings and the day of the interim decision on genocide allegations.

The fact that the ICJ has already held hearings has asked for an update in under two weeks and is thought of as the highest court on the planet, dating back to the UN Charter over 75 years ago, makes its prominence obvious.

Yet, at the end of the day, the ICJ, at most, in a case like this one, could refer Israel to the UN Security Council, where the US would veto any attempted enforcement action.

South Africa's government said on Tuesday that it had asked the World Court to consider whether Israel's decision to extend its military operations in Rafah required the court to use its power to prevent further breach of 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 is planning to expand its ground offensive into the city of Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinians have sought refuge from the offensive that has laid waste to much of the Gaza Strip since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

"New groups" of Israeli citizens should be required to serve in the IDF, Likud Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli and MKs Moshe Saada and Dan Illouz wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.

Chikli, Illouz, and Saada's letter indicated their support for the recruitment of haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men to the IDF, and came in the wake of public criticism over the government's recently published plan to lengthen mandatory and reserve service for those who serve, while maintaining an exemption for haredim.

The writers said that they "could not be a part of this moral and ethical distortion."

More than 50% of Israelis suffering from psychological problems after the October 7 massacre say they don’t have the financial means for mental health care, and about a quarter reported that they don’t receive psychological assistance due to a lack of therapists where they live. 

The joint study was conducted by the University of Haifa and the Shalvata Mental Health Center in Hod Hasharon. The lack of money to get mental health care was the complaint of 53.3% of the participants in the Jewish population and 56.1% of the participants in the Arab population. About a quarter of the participants from among the Jewish population and about half of the participants from the Arab population said they don’t get help due to a lack of caregivers in their area of residence.

The Defense Ministry is spending NIS 150 million to provide over 200 armored vehicles to village security groups on the Gaza border, northern border, and in the West Bank.

Local security groups for Gaza and the North have been under threat for years by anti-tank missiles.

On October 7, the local security groups had no independent patrol or maneuvering capability that could even resist gunfire.

As IDF soldiers continued to operate in west Khan Yunis and push forward their offensive, the soldiers of the 7th Armored Brigade killed over 30 terrorists in clashes in the city, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said Tuesday morning. 

Paratroopers killed terrorists who attempted to hide themselves among the civilian population, and soldiers in the 414 Nesher Intelligence Battalion identified and killed terrorists carrying explosives on motorcycles. 

When one of the terrorists was spotted pointing a gun at an IDF vehicle, the soldiers reacted immediately and killed the terrorist. 

A Palestinian man attempted a ramming attack against IDF soldiers at at the Gush Etzion junction on Tuesday morning.

The suspect fled towards the Elazar Junction, where he was stopped by the security forces.

There were no casualties to IDF soldiers, the report continued. 

An initiative to declare UNRWA a terrorist organization is being spearheaded by the Shurat HaDin Law Center, representing dozens of October 7 massacre victims.

Shurat HaDin's initiative is targeted toward the Defense Ministry. The organization argues that there is a solid legal basis for such a designation. Their opinion, comprised of arguments that extend over eight pages, was submitted to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Should Gallant accept the proposal, he can exercise his authority to declare UNRWA a terrorist organization but would be subjected to Shin Bet security recommendation services.

The IDF announced the names of three soldiers who were killed in the Gaza Strip on Monday, which include two officers and a reservist.

The soldiers' families have been notified.

The names of the soldiers

Lt.-Cmdr. Yair Cohen, 30, from Ramat Gan, served in the 630th Battalion in the Southern Brigade and was killed in battle in the southern Gaza Strip. He was promoted to Lt.-Commander after his death. His funeral will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul.

Sgt.-Maj. Ziv Chen, 27, from Kfar Saba, was a reservist who served in the 630th Battalion in the Southern Brigade and was killed in battle in the southern Gaza Strip. His funeral will be on Tuesday at 12 p.m. at the military cemetery in Kfar Saba.

Lt.-Col. Netanel Yaacov Elkouby, 36, from Haifa, served in the 630th Battalion in the Southern Brigade and was killed in battle in the southern Gaza Strip.

Elkouby leaves behind a wife and five children. His funeral will be at a military cemetery in Haifa at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday. In 2019, he was a Captain (res.). He enlisted in 2006 in the Givati ​​Brigade, where he moved through several positions until receiving the position of sergeant.

Otzma Yehudit MK Yitzhak Kreuzer, who knew Elkouby, said, "I received with great sadness the news of the death of my dear friend, Elkouby, who fell heroically in the battles in the Gaza Strip in defense of our homeland. I had the privilege of knowing a fierce man and a hero with a gentle soul. My head refuses to believe, and my heart is broken. I salute you. Nati, rest in peace," Maariv quoted him as saying.

US President Joe Biden said that the status quo must be maintained at Al-Aqsa Mosque in a discussion with Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, at the White House on Monday.

At the same time, President Biden also commented on Jordan's role to play in maintaining stability, saying "The critical role that Jordan plays in the holy places for Muslims in Jerusalem must be recognized," according to a Walla report.