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UNITED NATIONS - Arab states plan to introduce a new draft resolution in the UN Security Council aimed at securing an immediate end to the "Israeli aggression" in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki said on Monday.
"I came at the request of (Palestinian president) Mahmud Abbas in order to start preparing for a draft resolution that will be presented to the Security Council as soon as possible," Malki told reporters.
He expressed hope that the text, which will be discussed here Monday by Arab foreign ministers, could be adopted Tuesday at a meeting of the 15-member council, which Abbas plans to attend.
Malki said the proposed resolution would call for "the ending of Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, a permanent and immediate ceasefire, lifting the siege, opening the crossings between Gaza and Israel and also between Gaza and Egypt."
The draft would also urge "allowing humanitarian aid and medication to enter Gaza, having international observers to be dispersed along the different crossings and an international force that will really provide protection for the Palestinian people," he added.
Israel has sealed its border with Gaza during its military offensive there, allowing no movement to and from the territory apart from its own armed forces.
Malki said he and fellow Arab foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria plus Arab League chief Amr Mussa planned to discuss the issue with UN chief Ban Ki-moon here Monday afternoon.
At least 537 Palestinians -- including more than 90 children -- have been killed since Israel launched Operation Cast Lead in Gaza on December 27 to put an end to rocket firing by Gaza-based militants. More than 2,500 have been wounded.
UN spokeswoman Michele Montas told a press briefing Monday that Ban spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and expressed his "extreme concern and disappointment" over the continued Gaza fighting.
Ban stressed the need "for Israel to do everything possible to protect civilians and to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need" and said there must be an "immediate end to violence on both sides", she added.
UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres also urged Egypt and Israel to allow civilians to flee Gaza and to allow humanitarian aid through.
"Those who are compelled to flee the Gaza Strip should be able to do so and to find safety and security in other countries according to international law," Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said in a statement.
The Gaza Strip has two land borders, with Israel and with Egypt.
Israel says dozens of fighters of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas have been killed while one Israeli soldier has been reported dead and 55 wounded since Saturday when the Jewish state sent tanks and infantry into Gaza.
Monday Israeli troops tightened their military grip on Gaza with new air and ground attacks that claimed more than 20 more lives.
The Security Council held an emergency meeting on the Gaza conflict after the start of the Israeli ground campaign Saturday, but after four hours of consultation members failed to agree a statement that would have called for immediate ceasefire.
The United States argued that a return to the situation that existed before Israel's ground invasion was unacceptable.
Saturday's meeting was the Security Council's third since the conflict erupted on December 27.
Malki on Monday expressed optimism that "there will be no US objections" to the latest Arab draft.
"We are here with the expectation that all members of the Security Council will work in a positive spirit with us in order to reach an agreement over a draft resolution that will be passed hopefully tomorrow afternoon," he said.
Malki said the Arab drive at the UN complemented mediation efforts in the region being pursued by France, the European Union and Turkey.
-AFP /ls
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