Hopes were raised on Thursday after Shimon Peres spent a second night in hospital without further complications following a stroke.

Dr Ze’ev Feldman, one of the doctors treating the former Israeli president at the Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan, said there was a chance he could make a better recovery that initially expected.

According to Israeli site Ynetnews, Dr Feldman said: “The fact that he returned to consciousness is extremely significant and may enable a recovery in the future and a return to fuller functionality, as opposed to a person who remains unconscious and cannot communicate.”

However, the doctor warned: “His situation is still serious but stable and the danger still exists considering his situation and age.”

Elsewhere, Yediot Acharonot quoted a member of the Sheba neurological team saying it was possible the 93-year-old statesman would have suffered no cognitive damage, due to the part of the brain affected.

However, the doctor cautioned that it was too early to tell if Mr Peres "will suffer impairment of motor function from the stroke.”

Mr Peres was admitted to hospital on Tuesday after complaining of a headache. While there, he suffered a stroke resulting in a bleed on the right side of his brain.