Thousands sign Shalit petition

“The inhumane prison conditions imposed on Shalit are criminal, immoral and unjust.”

It urges the British government “to do all in their power and use all avenues possible to secure the basic human rights and freedom of Corporal Shalit”.

Mr Scott, who is Jewish and has represented Ilford North since 2005, is a senior aide to cabinet minister Philip Hammond. He called the Israeli soldier’s incarceration “unjust" and said: "We must do all we can to ensure his release.”

Gilad Shalit was captured in a cross-border raid in June 2006. Hamas has so far refused offers of any kind of prisoner exchange.

See pictures from the Gilad Shalit vigil in Westminster here