Most stock markets in the Gulf finished flat on Monday amid tensions in the Middle East as Israel resumed attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement.

A truce between Israel and Lebanon took effect on Wednesday, but each side accused the other of breaching the ceasefire.

Several people had been wounded in two Israeli strikes in south Lebanon, the Lebanese health ministry said in a statement. Air strikes also intensified in Syria as President Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush insurgents who had swept into the city of Aleppo.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index reversed early losses to close flat.

Geopolitical tensions in the region had resurfaced, partially impacting sentiment, said Ahmed Negm, head of market research MENA, at XS.com.

Most Gulf markets higher on Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire

The market needs support for a potential sustained recovery, where the OPEC+ meeting this week may influence market direction, according to Negm. The market could find support in the positive growth projections for 2025, he said.

The Qatari index concluded flat.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index edged 0.1% higher, helped by a 5.6% rise in tobacco monopoly Eastern Company.

Markets in the United Arab Emirates were closed for a public holiday.

----------------------------------------- SAUDI ARABIA     closed flat at 11,739 QATAR            was flat at 10,391 EGYPT            rose 0.1% to 30,525 BAHRAIN          finished flat at 2,032 OMAN             eased 0.2% to 4,570 KUWAIT           added 0.1% to 7,768-----------------------------------------