5 Top Points
1. Gaza ceasefire accord implemented: At a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh (13 October), US President Donald Trump and mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye signed the first-phase Israel–Hamas ceasefire deal, following acceptance of Trump’s 20-point peace plan. Gulf and European leaders hailed the breakthrough, which halted the fighting and enabled prisoner exchanges.
2. Oman-Kuwait partnership talks: Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik hosted Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah in Muscat (14 October) to expand bilateral cooperation. The leaders discussed new opportunities in economic, investment and defence ties, underscoring growing GCC unity and a shared commitment to regional stability.
3. UAE expands Gaza relief efforts: The UAE marked two years of its Tarahum for Gaza relief initiative, which has delivered tens of thousands of tonnes of aid to the Strip. With the ceasefire in place, the UAE stepped up support, organising urgent medical airlifts that evacuated dozens of wounded Palestinians to Emirati hospitals under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s directives.
4. Kuwait’s Gaza air bridge continues: Kuwait sustained its humanitarian airlift to Gaza this week. The Kuwaiti Air Force dispatched its 18th and 19th relief flights carrying a combined 50 tonnes of food and supplies to Egypt’s Al-Arish for delivery into Gaza. These shipments bring Kuwait’s total airlifted aid to nearly 200 tonnes since the war began, underlining the Gulf states’ unwavering support for the Palestinian people.
5. EU pledges support for Gaza recovery: The EU welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and signalled readiness to assist in its implementation. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas praised US diplomacy and Gulf partners’ roles in securing the truce, and committed to help ensure humanitarian aid flows unimpeded into Gaza and to stabilisation and help with reconstruction.
‘Round and About the Gulf’
Kingdom of Bahrain
Monday, 13 October – King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attended a Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where regional leaders and US President Trump formalised the Gaza ceasefire agreement. King Hamad congratulated President Trump on this milestone for regional peace and affirmed Bahrain’s full support for efforts to rebuild Gaza. He praised Egypt’s role in galvanising Arab backing for Palestinian relief and reiterated Bahrain’s commitment to a two-state solution.
State of Kuwait
Wednesday, 8 October – Kuwait dispatched another planeload of aid as part of its ongoing air bridge to Gaza. The 18th Kuwaiti relief aircraft took off with 10 tonnes of food and medical supplies bound for Egypt’s Sinai, to be trucked into the Strip.
Sunday, 12 October – A 19th Kuwaiti Air Force transport arrived in Al-Arish carrying 40 tonnes of relief goods for Gaza, including staple foods and generators. Kuwaiti officials noted that the airlift’s second phase has delivered nearly 200 tonnes in total. They also confirmed that all Kuwaiti activists detained by Israel after joining a Gaza aid flotilla were released this week following Kuwaiti diplomatic efforts.
Sultanate of Oman
Tuesday, 14 October – Sultan Haitham bin Tarik received Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al Sabah in Muscat for a fraternal state visit. The two leaders conferred on enhancing Oman-Kuwait cooperation in trade, investment, energy and culture, and witnessed the signing of agreements to spur joint projects. They jointly welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and stressed continued coordination to support Palestinian humanitarian needs. Sheikh Meshal’s first official visit to Oman underscored the strong ties between the two Gulf states and their close alignment on regional issues.
State of Qatar
Monday, 13 October – Qatar played a pivotal mediation role in finalising the Gaza ceasefire. At the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani joined Egypt, Türkiye and the US in signing the truce accord and pledging to guarantee its terms. Doha announced it would supply an additional 15 million litres of fuel to Gaza (doubling its fuel support to 30 million litres) to alleviate power shortages, and affirmed it will continue working with partners on Gaza’s reconstruction.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Thursday, 9 October – Saudi Arabia welcomed the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan, praising Washington’s leadership and the contributions of regional mediators. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman then joined other leaders at the 13 October Sharm El-Sheikh summit, where he affirmed the Kingdom’s readiness to support Gaza’s humanitarian relief and future reconstruction. Saudi Arabia signalled it will be a major contributor to rebuilding efforts in Gaza and reiterated that a two-state solution must follow the truce to secure lasting peace.
United Arab Emirates
Sunday, 12 October – The UAE marked the two-year anniversary of its intensive aid campaign for Gaza, under which it has delivered around 90,000 tonnes of assistance (worth 1.8 billion USD) since 2023 – the largest contribution by any donor. Following the truce, the Emirates Red Crescent expanded field kitchens and water supply lines in Gaza, and UAE Air Force medical evacuation flights transferred dozens of seriously ill Gazans to Abu Dhabi and Dubai for treatment. UAE leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing humanitarian support and to a political solution based on two states.
EU Corner
The EU swiftly backed the Gaza ceasefire and intensified coordination with Gulf partners. Meeting in Brussels (10 October), EU foreign ministers unanimously endorsed the US-brokered truce and commended the mediation roles of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE and Türkiye. A statement by High Representative Kaja Kallas urged all parties to fully implement the agreement, insisted on immediate humanitarian access to Gaza, and affirmed that the EU “stands ready to contribute” to Gaza’s stabilisation. Plans are being considered to redeploy the EU’s border mission at Rafah to help monitor aid flows and to bolster European humanitarian funding for Palestinians. EU leaders also reiterated that a reinvigorated peace process toward a two-state solution remains essential, with the Gaza truce providing a critical opening.
Key Official Visits & Contacts
Monday, 13 October (Sharm El-Sheikh) – Egypt hosted an extraordinary summit on Gaza’s war with President Trump, Gulf leaders and others signing the ceasefire declaration and coordinating urgent humanitarian and reconstruction plans for Gaza.
Tuesday, 14 October (Muscat) – Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah paid a state visit to Oman and met with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. They discussed strengthening bilateral ties and regional issues, jointly welcomed the Gaza ceasefire, and signed agreements to enhance economic cooperation.
Tuesday, 14 October (Riyadh) – Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel to advance Saudi–Portuguese cooperation. Rangel praised the Gaza ceasefire as a breakthrough and highlighted Portugal’s recent recognition of Palestine. The ministers agreed to deepen economic ties and to work together in support of Middle East peace efforts.