What will become of us? Who will lead us?': Funeral of a Rabbi attracts 700,000 mourners Rabbi Ovadia Yosef died aged 93 today after 'total failure of body systems' Thousands of police officers were called to control the crowds at his funeral procession through Jerusalem's streets later the same day It is the largest funeral in the country's history and 20 people were injured He founded ultra-orthodox party Shas to support Middle Eastern Jews Also engineered the first steps to peace talks between Israel and Palestine Shas leader Arye Deri wept: 'What will become of us? Who will lead us? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended and expressed 'deep sorrow' President Shimon Peres cut short meeting with Czech Republic to attend At least 700,000 mourners gathered in Jerusalem today for the funeral of influential ultra-orthodox Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. Thousands of police officers were deployed to control the crowds clamouring to stand near the spiritual leader's body on the day of his death, as per Jewish tradition. The procession - the largest in the country's history - set off at 6pm from the capital's Geula neighborhood and finished 1km away at the Sanhedriya cemetery, where he was buried. Devastated: Hundreds of thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews attend the funeral of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. It is the largest funeral procession in the country's history according to police Influential leader: Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (left) created the orthodox Shas party in 1984 to support the rights of marginalised Jews from the Middle East and North Africa Ambulance workers reported 20 people had been injured in the commotion, also attended by President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Iraqi-born Rabbi - founder of the Shas Party and a leading Torah scholar - was 93 when he died shortly before 1.30pm today. He was an arbiter of Halacha (Jewish law) and promoted rights for Jews emigrated from the Middle East and North Africa. Around 100 followers spent the night and day standing outside his ward in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem after doctors announced the situation was critical as they tried to control 'a total failure of his body systems'. The 1km-long procession started in the district of Geula and ended at Sanhedriya cemetery His followers wail as they clamour to get near the body of the Iraqi-born sage. Yosef turned an Israeli underclass of Sephardic Jews of Middle Eastern heritage into a powerful political force Mourning: People are inconsolable after the leader died aged 93 today. He had been recuperating from kidney surgery complications but took a turn for the worse on Sunday Family members and hospital officials made several pleas for well-wishers to not crowd the area, local media reported. President Shimon Peres visited Yosef's bedside at 11am, cutting short a meeting with the Czech prime minister. Peres reportedly held Yosef's hand and said goodbye before saying a prayer outside the room. When staff informed the supporters of his death, they wept and one woman fainted. Crowds gathered in the street, outside Yosef's family home and outside his hospital ward today Desperate to glimpse their icon, boys climbed rooftops - the closest they could get as thousands swarmed the ground below Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has suffered a series of health complications in recent weeks. His family had to ask well-wishers not to crowd the hospital's corridors as the stood, worrying, outside his eighth-floor ward Shas leader Arye Deri - currently in opposition - wept uncontrollably at a press conference before collapsing in the arms of Dr Dan Gilon, who treated the late cleric. He sobbed: 'The sun has been extinguished. The whole day I waited to be able to tell you that we are taking him home healthy and well. Referring to Yosef as 'our father' on Kol Barma radio, he cried: 'What will become of us? Who will take his place? Struggle: An Israeli border police officer tries to stop orthodox men and children from reaching the vehicle Commotion: 20 people were injured in the procession that started at 6pm today in Jerusalem, Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (centre) escorts the body. He said 'The Jewish people have lost one of the wisest men of this generation.' Mr Netanyahu described Rabbi Ovadia as 'among the greatest rabbis of our generation'. 'Rabbi Ovadia was a giant in Torah and Jewish law and a teacher for tens of thousands,' he said in a statement. The Jewish People have lost one of the wisest men of this generation. I admired his amiable personality and his direct approach. In my meetings with him I was always made wiser and learned something. Worshipped: A portrait of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef hangs on a wall in a yeshiva - a traditional Jewish education institute - during his funeral National outcry: Yosef's health has been the centre of media attention over the past several weeks Yosef promoted engineering peace talks between Palestine and Israel. People fainted outside the hospital in Jerusalem when doctors emerged with the news of his passing The outcry from political figures of all stances demonstrated how influential Yosef was on public life. It is the largest-scale reaction to the death of a public figure the nation has ever seen To his supporters, Rabbi Yosef was a revered spiritual sage who empowered masses of disenfranchised Sephardic Jews but among secular Israelis, he was widely perceived as a medieval figure The crowds stayed in the streets long into the evening as Shas leader cried: 'What will become of us?' Wide-rimmed black hats decorate the sky line as men sat in the sunset mourning the loss of their leader I send my condolences to his family, to his students, and his followers. Hundreds of yeshiva students and other followers gathered outside Yosef's home in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Nof after he died. One of the nation's most important figures, Rabbi Ovadia's health has been at the centre of media attention over the last few weeks. He is known for chasitising Arabs, liberals, women and gay people as well as promoting peace talks between Israel and Palestine. He was hospitalised last month after complications following kidney treatment. After seemingly recovering late last week, he was taken off a respirator, but took a turn for the worse on Sunday.