US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could “metastasize” and threaten security in the wider Middle East, AFP reports.

“This is a moment of profound tension in the region. This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and even more suffering,” Blinken told a news conference in Qatar on a regional tour aimed at de-escalating the conflict.