Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza has remained surrounded by Israeli troops and tanks for six consecutive days, the UN’s humanitarian office (OCHA) has said.

In a situation update as of Dec 11, the OCHA said “fighting with armed groups has been reported” in the hospital’s vicinity. “Reportedly, 250 doctors, patients, and their family members are trapped inside the hospital,” it stated.

The OCHA cited Gaza’s health ministry as saying that hospital occupancy rates were “now reaching 206 per cent in inpatient departments and 250pc in intensive care units”.

“Currently, only 13 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are partially functional and able to admit new patients, although services are limited,” the OCHA said.

Read the full update here.

Opinion

Editorial

Shifting climate tone
Updated 08 May, 2026

Shifting climate tone

Our financial system is geared towards short-term, risk-averse lending, while climate adaptation and green infrastructure require patient, long-term capital.
Honour and impunity
08 May, 2026

Honour and impunity

THE Sindh Assembly’s discussion on karo-kari this week reminds us of the enduring nature of ‘honour’ killings...
No real change
08 May, 2026

No real change

THE Indian sports ministry’s move to allow Pakistani players and teams to participate in multilateral events ...
A breakthrough?
07 May, 2026

A breakthrough?

The whole world would welcome an end to this pointless war.
Missed opportunity
07 May, 2026

Missed opportunity

A BIG opportunity to industrialise Pakistan has just passed us by. This has been reconfirmed by the investment...
Punishing dissent
07 May, 2026

Punishing dissent

THE Sindh government’s treatment of the Aurat March this week was a disgraceful assault on democratic rights. What...