An Israeli air strike targeting a house in a refugee camp in the centre of Gaza killed at least 20 people, according to hospital officials.

“We received 20 fatalities and several wounded after an Israeli air strike targeted a house belonging to the Hassan family in Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza,” the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said in a statement.

Palestinian official news agency Wafa reported that the wounded included several children, and rescuers were searching for missing people trapped under the rubble. The Israeli army said it was checking the report.

Fierce battles and heavy Israeli bombardments have been reported in the central Nuseirat camp since the military launched an operation focussing on the southern city of Rafah in early May.

Two Israeli soldiers were also killed in a battle in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, the military said on Sunday.

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