The first Palestinian ambassador to Spain has presented his credentials to Spanish King Felipe VI after Madrid formally recognised a Palestinian state in May, AFP reports.

The head of state welcomed Housni Abdel Wahed to the royal palace in Madrid for the traditional ceremony for newly appointed foreign ambassadors to Spain, according to images published by the royal palace on social network X.

Wahed has been the head of the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Madrid since 2022 and he enjoyed a similar status to that of an ambassador but he officially changed rank after Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, formally recognised a Palestinian state comprising the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Israel has condemned the decision, saying it bolsters Hamas.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, one of the staunchest critics in Europe of Israel’s Gaza offensive, announced earlier this month that a bilateral summit between Spain and Palestine would be held before the end of the year.