Israel's ex-president Peres passes away at 93

Shimon Peres speaks on the crisis in the Middle East as he addresses the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations during a visit to New York in this July 31, 2006 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

JERUSALEM -- Shimon Peres, Israel's former president and its eldest statesman, passed away in a hospital outside Tel Aviv Wednesday morning, two weeks after he suffered a stroke, a spokesperson for the hospital confirmed to Xinhua.

Peres, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and one of the most central figures in Israeli politics, died at the age of 93.

Peres had been sedated and on respirator since he suffered a stroke on September 13 and hospitalized at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center outside Tel Aviv.

His family was expected to give a statement at 7:00 (0500 GMT).

On Tuesday afternoon, local media reported that the veteran statesman was "fighting for his life" after a critical deterioration in his condition. Family members and close friends were invited by the doctors to say goodbye.