Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas is visiting Madrid to meet with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and thank Spain for formally recognizing a Palestinian state in May. Abbas will also be received by Spain's King Felipe VI. This visit comes after Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, recognized a Palestinian state comprising the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The move led to a deterioration in ties between Spain and Israel. Sanchez has been a vocal critic of Israel's Gaza offensive and has vowed to continue pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the global stage.