MOSCOW: Russia on Friday urged Hamas to release all prisoners during talks in Moscow, saying the humanitarian situation in Gaza had reached `catastrophic`levels.

Hamas took about 250 Israeli prisoners in the Oct 7 raids, 132 of whom remain in Gaza.

Russian diplomat Mikhail Bogdanov `stressed the need for the speedy release of civilians captured during the attacks of Oct 7` in talks with Hamas senior official Musa Abu Marzouk, the foreign ministry said.The Palestinian group said in a statement that the talks were `to clarify the movement`s position and policies for dealing with the file of prisoners` it was holding.

The statement added that they had also discussed securing a ceasefire in the besieged territory and Bogdanov had expressed Russia`s `support of the rights of the Palestinian people`.

Bogdanov also met Israel`s ambassador to Moscow Simona Halperin, the Russian foreign ministry said later.She was `informed about the targeted efforts of the Russian diplomacy in the interests of the immediate and unconditional release of civilians, including Russian citizens, held in the Gaza strip,` the ministry said in a statement.

Bogdanov also voiced Moscow`s `consistent position in support of a comprehensive Middle East settlement on the basis of the decisions of the UN.` Russia has criticised Israel`s military campaign in Gaza and repeatedly called for the creation of a Palestinian state.-AFP