Gulf Cooperation Council affirms Lebanon support

The Gulf Cooperation Council reaffirmed its support for Lebanon during what it said was a "critical stage" and called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, after holding an extraordinary ministerial meeting in Doha.

In a statement, the council condemned the escalation of conflict in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories, calling on all involved parties to exercise self-restraint and refrain from violence.

More than 1,900 people have been killed and over 9,000 wounded in Lebanon in almost a year of cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, with most of the deaths occurring in the past two weeks, according to Lebanese government statistics.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians since October 7, when Hamas gunmen led an incursion into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and abducting about 250 hostages, according to Israel and Gaza health authorities.