"The aim is to sketch out post-war Gaza and prepare the recognition of a Palestinian state by France and countries that will engage in this approach," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in Brussels before a meeting of European Union foreign ministers.

At least 12 Palestinians were killed and several others injured Tuesday in new Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, medical sources said. Five people lost their lives when Israeli fighter jets hit a house in al-Zarqa neighborhood, northeast of Gaza City, a medical source said.

The Israeli military says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas.