Arab leaders to present Gaza resolution

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) - Foreign ministers from several Arab nations huddled in New York on Monday - the eve of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' address to the U.N. Security Council - to work up a U.N. draft resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

The draft appeals for the Israeli to stop its offensive in Gaza and for Hamas, which rules Gaza, to cease firing rockets at the Jewish state.

"We are here with the expectation that all the members of the Security Council will work in postive spirit," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said on Monday at the United Nations. "I don't have any doubt that any Palestinian would disagree with any efforts we are making, not only as Palestinians but collectively as Arabs, in order to really put an end to Israeli aggression, to reach a cease-fire, to lift the siege, to allow in humanitarian aid, to open the crossing and to allow international observers."

Israel closed in on Gaza City late Monday, as Hamas and Jerusalem showed little interest in international calls for a truce.