Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit returned to Israel on Tuesday, following his release from five years' captivity in the Gaza Strip.
Sgt. Shalit was released in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. The initial 477 were released on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old had been held by Hamas militants since 2006.
He was first handed over to Egypt by Hamas at the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, where he was received by Israeli representatives and and then taken to a military base close to the border.
He will later be taken to an airbase in central Israel, where he will meet his parents and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
His release is part of a landmark swap deal struck by Hamas and Israel last week. A further 550 Palestinian prisoners are scheduled to be released next month.
Celebrations were held in Gaza to welcome the freed prisoners.
"You have returned today to your relatives following a long absence," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said, adding he had agreed a deal to free more prisoners.
Speaking to Egyptian TV following his release, Shalit said he would be happy if thousands of other Palestinians held in Israeli jails were released.
"I will be happy if that happens," the International Middle East Media Center quoted Shalit as saying.
He said he hoped the deal, which met with criticism in Israel, would help bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
In a letter to families of Israelis killed by some of the Palestinian prisoners, Netanyahu said: “I understand the difficulty in accepting that the vile people who committed the heinous crimes against your loved ones will not pay the full price they deserve.”
The releases include some controversial names including senior Hamas leaders.
