A march to draw attention to Gilad Shalit’s plight has reached Jerusalem after a 12 day walk across the country by the captured soldier’s family and their supporters.

More than 20,000 people are expected to march to the official residence of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu before a rally in Independence Park.

The march began at the Shalit family home in Mitzpe Hila, Galilee, and Gilad’s father Noam has vowed to stay camped outside Mr Netanyahu’s home until his son is freed.

The prime minister has repeatedly said that he is willing to swap around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for Gilad Shalit’s freedom, but he has had no response from Hamas leaders.

Noam Shalit told the crowd in Jerusalem: "We don't see any alternative after four years of government failure to obtain the release of my son. There have been many, many failures, but now it's time to put public pressure on the government."