Israeli authorities released 29 Palestinian prisoners Tuesday, after 57 ex-detainees crossed into the West Bank a day earlier.

The 29 prisoners were due to cross into Gaza on Monday, but the delay was caused by “moral” objections of Israel's army chief of staff.

In a letter sent to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Ehud Barak, Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi said Palestinian prisoners from the salient shouldn’t be freed while Corporal Gilad Shalit is still being held hostage there by Hamas’ armed wing.

This move aims to support Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his power struggle against the Islamic movement, which controls Gaza since mid-June.

Most of those released Tuesday are members or supporters of Fatah’s armed wing, while several belong to the left-radical Popular and Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP and DFLP) factions.

The former detainees were greeted by thousands of relatives and supporters as they were passing through the northern Gaza crossing of Erez with Israel.

Tuesday’s operation wasn’t dodged by incidents, a Palestinian journalist being injured when Israeli soldiers opened fire on a group of people approaching the border fence, witnesses said.

According to the Israeli military, the journalist entered a “clearly marked” no-entry security zone and soldiers first fired warning shots into the air before shooting towards his lower body.

Meanwhile, senior Fatah officials and hundreds of people welcomed the ex-prisoners as they entered Gaza. A formal welcoming reception was organized at the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee headquarters in Gaza City.

This was the first time since Hamas gunmen, who ousted Fatah security forces from Gaza, allowed Fatah supporters to celebrate the return of their family members or friends on the streets of Gaza City without intervening.

During a meeting with Olmert held three weeks ago, Abbas asked the Israeli government to release prisoners from Gaza, aiming to boost his popularity in the Hamas-ruled salient.

The two leaders are due to meet once again early Wednesday in Jerusalem. That would be the fifth meeting since US President George W Bush announced a Middle East peace summit scheduled to be held in November.