U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has suggested that part of the motivation behind Hamas’ latest attack on Israel could have been to disrupt a potential normalizing of Israel-Saudi Arabia ties. Blinken made the remarks in an interview with CNN, where he also announced that the United States would be providing new aid to Israel. The ongoing violence between Hamas and Israel has resulted in hundreds of casualties on both sides and has further threatened the region’s stability.

Blinken stated that it would not be surprising if the attack by Hamas was intended to prevent efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel closer together, as well as to disrupt other countries interested in normalizing relations with Israel. He emphasized that the United States would be looking into the reports of several Americans killed and missing in Israel and working to verify the details.

Regarding the new aid for Israel, Blinken mentioned that specific additional requests made by the Israeli government were being considered. He assured that details of the assistance would be made public later. Blinken condemned the attack on Israel, labeling it a “terrorist attack by a terrorist organization.”

While there was relative calm in most of Israel on Sunday, intense fighting continued in Gaza, a Palestinian enclave under Israeli blockade. Gaza has experienced weeks of protests by youth groups due to long-standing grievances related to the Palestinian national cause and economic struggles. Blinken noted the absence of evidence linking Iran to the latest attack but acknowledged the longstanding ties between Iran and Hamas.

The Hamas attack on Saturday was the largest and deadliest incursion into Israel since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise assault to regain lost territory.