Middle East powers should maintain their push to de-escalate the region through trade and economic ties despite the Gaza conflict, a senior United Arab Emirates official has said, AFP reports.

According to UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash, countries should maintain that strategy even though the conflict is sending shockwaves through the region.

“National actors are basically trying to use economics as a way to de-escalate tension,” Gargash told the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi. “I think there is no reason why we should also veer away from that course of action.”

He added: “I think the other message is also [that] national plans have to move on. I don’t think that national plans have to be on pause, because there will always be a major regional issue that will surprise us.”