Shimon Peres's condition is improving and his "chances of survival are pretty good", the former president of Israel's doctors have said, after he suffered a stroke on Tuesday night.

"All the parameters are stable - blood pressure, heart rate, blood saturation," Professor Rafi Waldan, Mr Peres’s son-in-law and personal physician, told reporters, adding that that gave him a "certain optimism."

"The chances of survival are pretty good. As for the degree of neurological recovery, nobody can say at this early stage," Prof Waldan said.

Professor Ze'ev Feldman, a member of the neurosurgical team treating Mr Peres, said today that he was briefly taken off medication and responded well.

"He woke up, opened his eyes, and understood what we told him. He followed our instructions even better than the previous test," Prof Feldman said.

Earlier, doctors had lessened Mr Peres's sedation and Prof Waldan said this had allowed the 93-year-old to squeeze his hand.

“Next time that we try to lessen his sedation I hope that we will be able to get in touch with him.”

After making it through the night safely Mr Peres was moved to the intensive care unit of the neurology department at Tel Hashomer hospital for further treatment and observation.

"My father is a special man. I remain optimistic although these are not simple hours," Mr Peres's son, Chemi, said.

“It seems that we will soon be required to make decisions but not at the moment. Everything depends, of course, on how things develop.”

"I know that my father did not care about anything as much as he cares about people, as much as he cares about Israel, the Jewish people and the people in Israel. And I will take this opportunity on his behalf to send all of you his love."

In January, Mr Peres was hospitalised twice after heart complications, and underwent surgery to widen an artery.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted "I wish former President Shimon Peres a speedy recovery. Shimon, we love you and the whole nation wishes you a recovery."