World leaders react to death of Israel's Shimon Peres

His death triggered and outpouring of tributes from world leaders, who remained silent on the rampant bloodshed unleashed on Palestinians and Lebanese during Peres' reign.

From the US, Israel's biggest ally, President Barack Obama hailed Peres, while former president Bill Clinton called him "a genius with a big heart".

Obama said: "There are few people who we share this world with who change the course of human history, not just through their role in human events, but because they expand our moral imagination and force us to expect more of ourselves."

"My friend Shimon was one of those people," Obama said.

Clinton, who oversaw the signing of the Oslo Accords that envisioned an independent Palestinian state, said "the Middle East has lost a fervent advocate for peace and reconciliation and for a future where all the children of Abraham build a better tomorrow".

[Peres is one of a] few people who we share this world with who change the course of human history - Barack Obama, US President

Peres was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994, along with former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for their role in negotiating the Oslo accords.

Similarly, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Peres for his "courage and patriotism".

"I was lucky enough to have the chance to speak with this remarkable person many times. Every time I admired his courage and patriotism, his wisdom and vision, his ability to grasp the essence of the most difficult issues," Putin said in a message of condolence. 

I admired his courage and patriotism, his wisdom and vision, his ability to grasp the essence of the most difficult issues - Vladimir Putin, Russian President

The Kremlin said Putin also praised Peres for his alleged "personal contribution towards achieving a peaceful settlement in the Middle East". 

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hailed the 93-year-old's "long efforts" to forge a deal aimed at "fostering peace" in Israel and the Middle East.

"He worked tirelessly for a two-state solution that would enable Israel to live securely and harmoniously with the Palestinians and the wider region," Moon said of the former Israeli leader.

He worked tirelessly for a two-state solution that would enable Israel to live securely and harmoniously with the Palestinians and the wider region - Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General

While Peres has been lauded abroad as a peacemaker, many Palestinians view him very differently.

They cited his involvement in successive Arab-Israeli wars and the occupation of Palestinian territory.

Surprisingly, Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority - which was born of the Oslo accords - hailed Peres as a "brave" partner for peace and sent his family condolences.

"Peres was a partner in making the brave peace with the martyr Yasser Arafat and prime minister [Yitzhak] Rabin, and made unremitting efforts to reach a lasting peace from the Oslo agreement until the final moments of his life," Abbas said.

Meanwhile, Diana Buttu, former spokeswoman for the Palestinian Authority, tweeted "Peres was an unrepentant war criminal. Revisionist history won't work".

Peres was an unrepentant war criminal. Revisionist history won't work - Diana Buttu, PA former spokesperson

Hamas also welcomed news of Peres' death, calling him a "criminal".

In Gaza, a spokesman for the Islamist Hamas movement which runs the enclave said: "The Palestinian people are happy at the death of this criminal. 

"Shimon Peres was one of the last Israeli founders of occupation. His death marks the end of an era in the history of the Israeli occupation," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told AFP.

His death marks the end of an era in the history of the Israeli occupation - Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesperson

Peres was  prime minister in 1996 when more than 100 civilians were killed while sheltering at a UN peacekeepers' base in the Lebanese village of Qana fired upon by Israel.

Among those who have said they will attend his funeral and burial on Jerusalem's Mount Herzl on Friday are Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton, as well as Prince Charles and Francois Hollande.