Israel has declared a day of national mourning after Former President Shimon Peres, the country's longest serving politician, passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Tel Aviv following complications after being hospitalised for a stroke on Tuesday, September 13. Condolences have begun pouring in from politicians from all over the world including President Obama.

The 93-year-old’s political career spanned seven decades in which he held nearly every senior political post in Israel, including serving two terms as Israel's president and one as prime minister. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Liberation Organisation Chairman Yasser Arafat In 1994 for his role in negotiating the Oslo Accords.

He is survived by three children - a daughter and two sons. His wife Sonya died in 2011. Peres remained politically and publicly active up until his death, being particularly focused on his non-governmental organisation, the 'Peres Centre for Peace,' which promotes closer ties between Israelis and Palestinians. His funeral is scheduled to take place Friday and many world leaders are expected to attend.