Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip killed at least 17 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and destroyed bulldozers and other heavy equipment that had been supplied by mediators to clear rubble. Separate strikes killed two people in Lebanon.

France, Germany and Britain meanwhile said Israel's seven-week blockade on all imports to Gaza was "intolerable."

Egypt and Qatar mediators are working on a proposal to end the Israeli war in Gaza that would include a five to seven-year truce, officials said.