MADRID — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Wednesday that Spain and Palestine will hold their first bilateral summit this year to strengthen ties.

“Before the end of this year we are going to hold the first bilateral summit between Spain and Palestine in which we hope to sign several collaboration agreements between the two states,” Sanchez announced during the opening ceremony of the political year in Madrid.

He also said that Spain will continue supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

In a coordinated move, Norway, Ireland, and Spain recognized Palestine as a state in May amid international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza following Israel’s military operation.

XINHUA