Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has said humanitarian aid in Gaza should be sustained and expanded, and it should not later become contingent on further hostage releases, Reuters reports.

“Whatever humanitarian access now increases as a result of this hostage deal must remain in place and must be built upon,” he said.

“There must at no point be a reduction in this access based on progress for further release of hostages … Punishing the civilian population of Gaza for the holding of those hostages is absolutely not acceptable.”