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TheÌý45th Gulf summit concluded on Sunday by calling for an end to Israel's military onslaught in Gaza, urging for an "immediate ceasefire" in the war-hit territory,Ìýthe Gulf Cooperation Council'sÌýSecretary-GeneralÌýJassim Al-Budaiwi said.

Leaders from the region alsoÌýexpressed its solidarity with Lebanon,Ìýwhere a ceasefire has been in effect since Wednesday.

In the final statement of the summit, the six-member body, echoing Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, called for an "immediate and permanent cessation of Israeli fire and military operations" as well as "the delivery of all humanitarian and relief aid and basic needs to the residents of Gaza".

The meeting was attended by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, along with the UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Omani Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said.

The meeting of the six-member GCC comes at a time of acute and ongoing uncertainty for the Middle East following Israel's military onslaught in the Gaza which began on October 7 last year, which has repeatedly threatened spillover into a wider regional conflagration.

Sheikh Meshal hit out at what he characterised as the "double standards in the application of relevant international laws, charters and resolutions" which he said had undermined "the region's security and stability".

He said Kuwait was "optimistic" about a ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon that he said would contribute "to reducing escalation in the region".

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar and other countries also welcomed last week's a truce after a year of conflict that killed thousands in Lebanon and caused the displacement of over one million people.

Fighting escalated dramatically in September after continuous cross-border strikes, which began one day after Israel's war in Gaza. A subsequent invasion of southern Lebanon took place in early October.

The Kuwaiti ruler spoke in support of Saudi's work to form a global body pushing for an independent Palestinian state and lauded "positive and constructive" work by Iran and the GCC.

Saudi Arabia had appeared close to a normalisation deal with Israel prior to October 2023 but Riyadh indicated it was unwilling to move ahead while Israel pursued its campaign in Gaza which has killed more than 44,000, hardening its position in recent months saying it would not recognise Israel without an independent Palestinian state.

Anxious about being drawn into tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and nearby Iran, also precipitated by the military onslaught in Gaza, the wealthy and traditionally western-allied Gulf monarchies have sought to cultivate improved relations with Tehran.

An Israeli air raid on Iran in October was the most recent in a series of retaliatory attacks between the two countries.