At least three children were among a dozen Palestinians killed in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Monday as Israeli troops pressed home a ground offensive, defying mounting European and Arab calls for an immediate ceasefire.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, was due to arrive in the region later on Monday to reinforce European efforts to stop the fighting. After meeting Hosni Mubarak, his Egyptian counterpart, Mr Sarkozy will travel from Egypt to the West Bank, to meet Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, before conferring with Ehud Olmert, Israel’s prime minister.