Freed Palestinian prisoners wave to relatives as homecoming celebrations erupt in the West Bank.<br/> Israel released 550 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday in the second stage of a deal with Hamas that brought home soldier Gilad Shalit after five years of captivity in the Gaza Strip.<br/> Shalit was abducted in 2006 by militants who tunneled into Israel from the Gaza Strip and attacked his tank crew, killing two of his comrades.<br/> Israeli Government Spokesman for Arabic Press Ofir Gendelman.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) OFIR GENDELMAN, GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN FOR ARABIC PRESS, SAYING:<br/> "We hope they will return and will relinquish violence; but if they do go back to violence we will hold them accountable."<br/> Israel's Prisons Service said the convoys of busses drove prisoners to destinations in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem and Jordan.<br/> In Gaza, the former prisoners shook hands with Hamas leaders.<br/> Nearly all of the freed prisoners are from the West Bank, where Hamas' rival - the western-backed Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas - dominates.<br/> They were convicted of crimes that included attempted murder, planting bombs and membership of militant groups.<br/> Israel released 450 prisoners in October during the first phase of the deal.<br/> Katharine Jackson, Reuters.
