At least 68 killed in central Gaza in air strike

The 68 fatalities include at least 12 women and seven children, according to early hospital figures

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel (Ariel Schalit/ AP)

At least 68 people were killed by an Israeli strike in central Gaza, health officials said.

It comes as the number of Israeli soldiers killed in combat over the weekend rose to 17.