Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    RAMALLAH, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday he is interested in seeing a ceasefire taking place in Gaza Strip to end the people's suffering.

    "The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) seeks to reach a solution, via the peace, ending the suffering of the Palestinian people," Abbas added during an activity held here to mark the Nakba of the Palestinian people.

    While the Israelis are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the birth of their nation, Palestinians are observing the Nakba, which means catastrophe, when some 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from homes in fighting raged around Israel's founding in 1948.

    Hamas ousted Abbas' Fatah movement and took control of Gaza Strip by force last June. As a result, Israel increased military operations and tightened the closure on the impoverished territory.

    Egypt has been mediating to broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The Palestinian factions accepted the Egyptian offer and still awaits Israel's response.

    "I hope that the calmness will prevail in Gaza," Abbas said.