Hundreds of relatives and well-wishers had been waiting for hours at the Erez Crossing with the Gaza Strip for a glimpse of the freed prisoners....and finally at midnight they were rewarded.<br /> <br />Five prisoners were released here in Gaza and another 21 were sent to the West Bank.<br /> <br />It is the second of four batches of 26 Palestinians prisoners to be released. It's part of a deal to help U.S. sponsored peace talks after deep divisions on both sides.<br /> <br />Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed a large crowd, denying the deal had been made on the understanding that Israel could continue building settlements.<br /> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS, SAYING:<br /> <br />"Some non-nationalists spread rumours that we made this agreement instead of a settlements freeze. This is wrong, the settlements are void, void and void."<br /> <br />The freed men were all convicted of murdering Israelis, spending between 19 and 28 years in prison.<br /> <br />But as they were driven from
