In Gaza, a senior Hamas leader involved in the ceasefire negotiations tells Drop Site News that Hamas will not agree to demands that it unilaterally disarm. Basem Naim also said that Hamas will not submit to Israel’s demand for a total demilitarization of the Gaza Strip. This comes amid reports that President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed back in December that Hamas would be given a two-month deadline to disarm.

On Monday, the Hind Rajab Foundation said it had filed a criminal complaint in Chile seeking the prosecution of Rom Kovtun, an Israeli soldier accused of taking part in the deadly 2024 siege of Al-Shifa Hospital. The World Health Organization reports at least 21 patients were killed during attacks on the hospital.

Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations Development Programme is demanding greater access to Gaza to expand aid and recovery efforts. Administrator Alexander De Croo spoke from Gaza City.

Alexander De Croo: “More than 300,000 families in Gaza are looking for housing. Only 10% of people today living in Gaza have housing which has the basic accommodations, so 90% of the population is today looking for housing. You have seen in what very difficult circumstances people have to live or have to survive.”