Kuwait Emir urges 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza at GCC summit

Kuwait's Emir on Sunday urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as he addressed a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held after nearly 14 months of war in the Palestinian territory.

Emir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah called on the international community to implement "an immediate ceasefire, providing international protection for innocent civilians and ensuring the opening of safe corridors and the arrival of urgent humanitarian aid."

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 Hizbollah 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 mass displacement on both sides of the border.

The Kuwaiti Emir 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.

Agence France-Presse