Hundreds of Israeli protesters demand release of prisoners in Gaza

JERUSALEM. (AA) - Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated Saturday to demand the release of prisoners held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to media reports.

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the demonstration was near Tel Aviv at the Emek Hefer junction.

Thousands demonstrate almost daily across Israel to pressure the government to take measures to release those detained in Gaza.

Hamas proposed a prisoner exchange deal that would free all prisoners in the Gaza Strip in exchange for all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

But Israel insists on releasing prisoners through a massive operation in the Gaza Strip, rejecting calls to come to terms with the Palestinian resistance group.

Earlier Saturday, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman warned, during a meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in Jordan, that continued Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip "will double the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip and complicate securing the release of prisoners."

There are at least 242 Israelis who were captured by Hamas and other Palestinian groups during a surprise attack Oct. 7 attack against Israel.

More than 6,000 Palestinians are imprisoned by Israel.