New York - A United Nations official said Friday arrangements should be worked out to end the current fighting between Israel and Hamas, including bringing the Palestinian Authority back in control of the Gaza Strip.

Robert Serry, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process based in Jerusalem, said an immediate ceasefire has become "imperative."

"Much of Gaza Strip infrastructure has been destroyed while casualties have increased," Serry said in a teleconference from his office in Jerusalem with reporters at UN headquarters in New York.

He said Hamas militants now can fire missiles reaching targets 40 kilometres into Israel while at the same time Israeli tanks are poised at border with Gaza ready for a ground assault.

Serry said Arab governments are prepared to meet in New York next week to make a push for a ceasefire, which should be declared by the UN Security Council. But he said any solution to the current fighting should be comprehensive, involving a fully respected ceasefire, opening of crossings into Gaza and a role for the United Nations, which he said is the "only player" in Gaza.

"The Palestinian Authority should be part of the solution and future arrangements," Serry said.

The PA has been ousted from Gaza by Hamas militants who took over the territory with 1.5 million Palestinians and has set up an administration in the West Bank.

"It's very clear that an immediate cessation of hostilities is absolutely vital, we must create now new conditions on the ground to ensure that the conflict won't happen again," Serry said. "The return to the status quo ante, or the previous situation, will not be enough."

He said the ceasefire would be the first step. He said "further arrangements" should be studied to solidify the ceasefire and other elements, like the continuous reopening of the crossings, a commitment by Hamas to end the arms smuggling and rocket attacks, and respect of the ceasefire, should be discussed.

Bringing Gaza back under the control of PA and reunifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank is another element in the overall discussion, Serry said.

"The international community should step in to enable these (elements) to happen," Serry said.

The 15-nation council had not scheduled any meeting at UN headquarters on Friday, but it was not ruled out that a meeting would be held on Monday with the full participation of five new members - Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Uganda - which were elected to serve two-year terms beginning in 2009.

The council last met on New Year's Eve to hear Arab League representatives demand that the body issue a call for a ceasefire in the fighting. The ceasefire proposal suggested by the Arab League was considered one-sided by Western powers and the league said it would return next week for more discussion. (dpa)