Husni Abdel Wahed, the first-ever Ambassador of Palestine to Spain, submitted his credentials to King Felipe VI in a traditional ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid on Monday.
This follows Spain’s official recognition of the State of Palestine in May.
Abdel Wahed has headed the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Spain since 2022, but his status was officially elevated after Spain’s decision, mirroring moves by Ireland and Norway.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also announced that the first bilateral summit between Spain and Palestine would take place by the end of the year.
Sanchez emphasized that Spain’s recognition of Palestine aligns with UN resolutions and aims to foster peace between Palestinians and Israelis.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, alongside his Irish and Norwegian counterparts, called the recognition a step towards justice for the Palestinian people. Spain now joins over 140 countries in recognizing Palestine as an independent state.
