US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israel following visits to Arab capitals that he saw opportunities for it to build closer ties in the region after the Gaza crisis, Reuters reports.

“I know of your own efforts, over many years, to build much greater connectivity and integration in the Middle East, and I think there are actually real opportunities there,” he said in a televised meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz.

“But we have to get through this very challenging moment and ensure that October 7 can never happen again and work to build a much different and much better future,” Blinken said.