diff --git a/README-MAINTAINER.md b/README-MAINTAINER.md
index 56d362147..6b40c16be 100644
--- a/README-MAINTAINER.md
+++ b/README-MAINTAINER.md
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ For archiving purposes, the release is also published in a separate folder
 for each version, with the archive in the top folder and the p2 repo as
 a sub-folder
 
-- <https://download.eclipse.org/embed-cdt/releases/6.5.0/org.eclipse.embedcdt.repository-6.5.0-202307251916.zip>
+- <https://download.eclipse.org/embed-cdt/releases/6.5.0/org.eclipse.embedcdt.repository-6.5.0-202401111557.zip>
 - <https://download.eclipse.org/embed-cdt/releases/6.5.0/p2/>
 
 The official download page is
@@ -57,12 +57,13 @@ Install the **CBI Aggregator Editor** from:
 
 - <https://download.eclipse.org/cbi/updates/aggregator/ide/4.13>
 
-At first use, clone the SimRel Git repo:
+At first use, fork the SimRel Git repo from:
 
-```bash
-git clone ssh://lionescu@git.eclipse.org:29418/simrel/org.eclipse.simrel.build org.eclipse.simrel.build.git
-scp -p -P 29418 lionescu@git.eclipse.org:hooks/commit-msg org.eclipse.simrel.build.git/.git/hooks/
-```
+- <https://github.com/eclipse-simrel/simrel.build>
+
+to
+
+- <https://github.com/embed-cdt/simrel.build>
 
 ### SimRel deadline
 
@@ -272,7 +273,7 @@ In Eclipse:
 - right click: **Show Properties View**
 - in the right side, edit the **Location** field to the new release
 candidate p2 URL (like
-`https://download.eclipse.org/embed-cdt/release-candidates/6.5.0-202307251916/p2/`
+`https://download.eclipse.org/embed-cdt/release-candidates/6.5.0-202401111557/p2/`
 and press Enter
 - select all the features in the contribution, right-click and choose
 **Fix Versions**
@@ -281,7 +282,7 @@ and press Enter
 - Save
 - stage `simrel.aggr` & `embedcdt.aggrcon`
 - commit with a message like:
-  - _embedcdt: update for 6.5.0-202307251916_,
+  - _embedcdt: update for 6.5.0-202401111557_,
   - _Signed-off-by: Liviu Ionescu <ilg@livius.net>_
 - click the **Commit** button (do not Push yet)
 - right click, Show in local Terminal
@@ -311,7 +312,7 @@ In about 7-8 minutes it'll automatically rebuild the staging repo:
 
 Announce the release candidate to the **embed-cdt-dev@eclipse.org** list;
 use a subject like
-**Embed CDT v6.5.0-202307251916 release candidate**,
+**Embed CDT v6.5.0-202401111557 release candidate**,
 and pass a link to the release page, available at:
 
 - <https://projects.eclipse.org/projects/iot.embed-cdt/>
@@ -326,7 +327,7 @@ Go to the release candidate folder
 
 - [https://download.eclipse.org/embed-cdt/release-candidates/](https://download.eclipse.org/embed-cdt/release-candidates/)
 
-Copy the tag and enter it in Git, like `v6.5.0-202307251916` (with `v`).
+Copy the tag and enter it in Git, like `v6.5.0-202401111557` (with `v`).
 
 ## Publish the final release
 
@@ -380,12 +381,12 @@ In the `develop` branch, in `_posts/plugins/releases`, add a new release page.
 As links for the latest two, open <https://download.eclipse.org/embed-cdt/releases/>
 and get the archive URL, like:
 
-- <https://download.eclipse.org/embed-cdt/releases/6.5.0/org.eclipse.embedcdt.repository-6.5.0-202307251916.zip>
+- <https://download.eclipse.org/embed-cdt/releases/6.5.0/org.eclipse.embedcdt.repository-6.5.0-202401111557.zip>
 
 Isolate the part starting with `/embed-cdt/...` and update the URLs to use the download redirect:
 
-- <https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/download.php?file=/embed-cdt/releases/6.5.0/org.eclipse.embedcdt.repository-6.5.0-202307251916.zip>
-- <https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/download.php?file=//embed-cdt/releases/6.5.0/org.eclipse.embedcdt.repository-6.5.0-202307251916.zip.sha>
+- <https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/download.php?file=/embed-cdt/releases/6.5.0/org.eclipse.embedcdt.repository-6.5.0-202401111557.zip>
+- <https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/download.php?file=//embed-cdt/releases/6.5.0/org.eclipse.embedcdt.repository-6.5.0-202401111557.zip.sha>
 
 Go to <https://github.com/eclipse-embed-cdt/eclipse-plugins/milestones> and
 update the fixed issues.
diff --git a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.arm.core/plugin.xml b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.arm.core/plugin.xml
index 1ab74caf4..1123aacb7 100644
--- a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.arm.core/plugin.xml
+++ b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.arm.core/plugin.xml
@@ -2908,6 +2908,11 @@
 					id="ilg.gnuarmeclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.c.linker.paths"
 					superClass="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.paths">
 				</option>
+				<option
+                    category="ilg.gnuarmeclipse.managedbuild.cross.optionCategory.c.linker.libs"
+                    id="ilg.gnuarmeclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.c.linker.libs.group"
+                    superClass="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.libs.group">
+                </option>
 				<optionCategory
 					id="ilg.gnuarmeclipse.managedbuild.cross.optionCategory.c.linker.misc"
 					name="%optionCategory.linker.misc">
@@ -3098,6 +3103,11 @@
 					id="ilg.gnuarmeclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.cpp.linker.paths"
 					superClass="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.paths">
 				</option>
+				<option
+                    category="ilg.gnuarmeclipse.managedbuild.cross.optionCategory.cpp.linker.libs"
+                    id="ilg.gnuarmeclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.cpp.linker.libs.group"
+                    superClass="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.libs.group">
+                </option>
 				<optionCategory
 					id="ilg.gnuarmeclipse.managedbuild.cross.optionCategory.cpp.linker.misc"
 					name="%optionCategory.linker.misc">
diff --git a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
index a45b265d5..5a50b6ca0 100644
--- a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
+++ b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ Require-Bundle: org.eclipse.embedcdt.core;bundle-version="6.5.0",
  org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core;bundle-version="9.0.0",
  org.eclipse.core.expressions;bundle-version="3.7.0",
  org.eclipse.core.resources;bundle-version="3.13.800",
- org.eclipse.core.runtime;bundle-version="3.19.0"
+ org.eclipse.core.runtime;bundle-version="3.19.0",
+ org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.gnu.ui;bundle-version="8.6.0"
 Bundle-ActivationPolicy: lazy
 Bundle-RequiredExecutionEnvironment: JavaSE-11
 Bundle-Vendor: %bundle.vendor
diff --git a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/plugin.properties b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/plugin.properties
index 6c8977d44..8ceb47f94 100644
--- a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/plugin.properties
+++ b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/plugin.properties
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ option.linker.printgcsections=Print removed sections (-Xlinker --print-gc-sectio
 option.linker.strip=Omit all symbol information (-s)
 option.linker.libs=Libraries (-l)
 option.linker.paths=Library search path (-L)
+option.linker.libs.group=Group libraries (-Wl,--start-group  ...  -Wl,--end-group)
 option.linker.flags=Linker flags (-Xlinker [option])
 option.linker.otherobjs=Other objects
 option.linker.other=Other linker flags
diff --git a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/plugin.xml b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/plugin.xml
index 4ee55876d..9119cd7f5 100644
--- a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/plugin.xml
+++ b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/plugin.xml
@@ -651,6 +651,7 @@
 				command="-l"
 				id="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.libs"
 				isAbstract="true"
+				commandGenerator="org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core.GnuCppLibrariesCommandGenerator"
 				name="%option.linker.libs"
 				valueType="libs">
 			</option>
@@ -662,6 +663,13 @@
 				name="%option.linker.paths"
 				valueType="libPaths">
 			</option>
+			<option
+				defaultValue="false"
+				id="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.libs.group"
+				isAbstract="true"
+				name="%option.linker.libs.group"
+				valueType="boolean">
+			</option>
 			<option
 				command="-Xlinker ${VALUE}"
 				id="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.flags"
diff --git a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/src/org/eclipse/embedcdt/managedbuild/cross/core/GnuCppLibrariesCommandGenerator.java b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/src/org/eclipse/embedcdt/managedbuild/cross/core/GnuCppLibrariesCommandGenerator.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..576e0f0b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/src/org/eclipse/embedcdt/managedbuild/cross/core/GnuCppLibrariesCommandGenerator.java
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core;
+
+import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.gnu.ui.LibrariesCommandGenerator;
+
+public class GnuCppLibrariesCommandGenerator extends LibrariesCommandGenerator {
+
+	public GnuCppLibrariesCommandGenerator() {
+		super("ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.libs.group"); //$NON-NLS-1$
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/src/org/eclipse/embedcdt/managedbuild/cross/core/GnuMcuMakefileGenerator.java b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/src/org/eclipse/embedcdt/managedbuild/cross/core/GnuMcuMakefileGenerator.java
index b691b904b..d0c99eb19 100644
--- a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/src/org/eclipse/embedcdt/managedbuild/cross/core/GnuMcuMakefileGenerator.java
+++ b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core/src/org/eclipse/embedcdt/managedbuild/cross/core/GnuMcuMakefileGenerator.java
@@ -14,13 +14,74 @@
 
 package org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.core;
 
+import java.util.regex.Matcher;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+
 import org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.makegen.gnu.GnuMakefileGenerator;
 
+@SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
 public class GnuMcuMakefileGenerator extends GnuMakefileGenerator {
 
+	private Pattern doubleQuotedOption = Pattern.compile("--?[a-zA-Z]+.*?\\\".*?\\\".*"); //$NON-NLS-1$
+	private Pattern singleQuotedOption = Pattern.compile("--?[a-zA-Z]+.*?'.*?'.*"); //$NON-NLS-1$
+	private static Pattern singleGroupOption = Pattern.compile("-Wl,--start-group (.*?) -Wl,--end-group"); //$NON-NLS-1$
+
 	@Override
 	public String ensurePathIsGNUMakeTargetRuleCompatibleSyntax(String path) {
-		return escapeWhitespaces(ensureUnquoted(path));
+		boolean isQuotedOption = false;
+		if (path.startsWith("-")) { //$NON-NLS-1$
+			isQuotedOption = checkIfQuotedOption(path);
+		}
+		if (checkIfGroupOption(path))
+			return escapeGroupWhitespaces(ensureUnquoted(path));
+		if (!isQuotedOption)
+			return escapeWhitespaces(ensureUnquoted(path));
+
+		return path;
+	}
+
+	static public String escapeGroupWhitespaces(String path) {
+		Matcher m = singleGroupOption.matcher(path);
+		while (m.find()) {
+			String grouplib = m.group(1).toString().trim();
+			if (grouplib.length() > 0) {
+				StringBuffer escapedPath = new StringBuffer();
+				String[] segments = grouplib.split("-l"); //$NON-NLS-1$
+				if (segments.length > 1) {
+					for (int index = 0; index < segments.length; ++index) {
+						String segment = segments[index].trim();
+						if (segment.length() > 0) {
+							escapedPath.append("-l");
+							escapedPath.append(escapeWhitespaces(segment));
+							if (index + 1 < segments.length) {
+								escapedPath.append(" "); //$NON-NLS-1$
+							}
+						}
+					}
+				} else {
+					escapedPath.append(grouplib);
+				}
+				path = path.replace(grouplib, escapedPath.toString().trim());
+			}
+		}
+		return path;
+	}
+
+	private boolean checkIfGroupOption(String path) {
+		Matcher m1 = singleGroupOption.matcher(path);
+		if (m1.matches())
+			return true;
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	private boolean checkIfQuotedOption(String path) {
+		Matcher m1 = doubleQuotedOption.matcher(path);
+		if (m1.matches())
+			return true;
+		Matcher m2 = singleQuotedOption.matcher(path);
+		if (m2.matches())
+			return true;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.riscv.core/plugin.xml b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.riscv.core/plugin.xml
index 4803c2c31..7527eecbf 100644
--- a/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.riscv.core/plugin.xml
+++ b/plugins/org.eclipse.embedcdt.managedbuild.cross.riscv.core/plugin.xml
@@ -1819,6 +1819,11 @@
 					id="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.riscv.option.c.linker.paths"
 					superClass="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.paths">
 				</option>
+                <option
+                    category="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.riscv.optionCategory.c.linker.libs"
+                    id="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.riscv.option.c.linker.libs.group"
+                    superClass="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.libs.group">
+                </option>
 				<optionCategory
 					id="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.riscv.optionCategory.c.linker.misc"
 					name="%optionCategory.linker.misc">
@@ -2009,6 +2014,11 @@
 					id="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.riscv.option.cpp.linker.paths"
 					superClass="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.paths">
 				</option>
+                <option
+                    category="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.riscv.optionCategory.cpp.linker.libs"
+                    id="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.riscv.option.cpp.linker.libs.group"
+                    superClass="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.option.base.linker.libs.group">
+                </option>
 				<optionCategory
 					id="ilg.gnumcueclipse.managedbuild.cross.riscv.optionCategory.cpp.linker.misc"
 					name="%optionCategory.linker.misc">
diff --git a/repositories/org.eclipse.embedcdt-repository/composite/compositeArtifacts.xml b/repositories/org.eclipse.embedcdt-repository/composite/compositeArtifacts.xml
index 9d435ab4d..454855862 100644
--- a/repositories/org.eclipse.embedcdt-repository/composite/compositeArtifacts.xml
+++ b/repositories/org.eclipse.embedcdt-repository/composite/compositeArtifacts.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     type='org.eclipse.equinox.internal.p2.artifact.repository.CompositeArtifactRepository' version='1.0.0'>
   <properties size='1'>
     <!-- timestamp made with `date +%s%3N` on Linux -->
-    <property name='p2.timestamp' value='1690313001247'/>
+    <property name='p2.timestamp' value='1704989417557'/>
   </properties>
   <children size='1'>
     <child location='../../releases/6.0.0/p2'/>
@@ -16,5 +16,6 @@
     <child location='../../releases/6.3.1/p2'/>
     <child location='../../releases/6.3.2/p2'/>
     <child location='../../releases/6.4.0/p2'/>
+    <child location='../../releases/6.5.0/p2'/>
   </children>
 </repository>
diff --git a/repositories/org.eclipse.embedcdt-repository/composite/compositeContent.xml b/repositories/org.eclipse.embedcdt-repository/composite/compositeContent.xml
index 3374f11b6..e2ba07f0b 100644
--- a/repositories/org.eclipse.embedcdt-repository/composite/compositeContent.xml
+++ b/repositories/org.eclipse.embedcdt-repository/composite/compositeContent.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     type='org.eclipse.equinox.internal.p2.metadata.repository.CompositeMetadataRepository' version='1.0.0'>
   <properties size='1'>
     <!-- timestamp made with `date +%s%3N` on Linux -->
-    <property name='p2.timestamp' value='1690313001247'/>
+    <property name='p2.timestamp' value='1704989417557'/>
   </properties>
   <children size='1'>
     <child location='../../releases/6.0.0/p2'/>
@@ -16,5 +16,6 @@
     <child location='../../releases/6.3.1/p2'/>
     <child location='../../releases/6.3.2/p2'/>
     <child location='../../releases/6.4.0/p2'/>
+    <child location='../../releases/6.5.0/p2'/>
   </children>
 </repository>