Ramallah - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will travel to New York this week heading a high-level Arab delegation with the aim of attaining a ceasefire decision in Gaza from the Security Council, Abbas aide Yaser Abed Rabbo said Thursday.

He told a news conference in Ramallah that Abbas will be in New York when the Security Council meets to discuss an Arab proposal calling for a halt to Israeli air attacks on the Gaza Strip.

"We will stay in New York until we get a ceasefire, no matter how long it will take," said Abed Rabbo. "We are not going to take this matter lightly."

He said Abbas wants to see an end to the Israeli attacks and wants to see all the Palestinians united behind a decision to halt the fighting and observe a new truce. (dpa)