Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that Saudi Foreign Ministry official, Nayef al-Sudairi, the current ambassador to Jordan will serve as ambassador to Palestine and consul general in Al-Quds.

Sudairi called the appointment "an important step" during a video broadcast on Saudi state-affiliated Al-Ekhbariya channel, emphasizing the King and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's desire to "strengthen relations with the brothers of the State of Palestine and give it a formal boost in all areas."

Saudi Arabia's embassy in Amman has historically handled the Palestinian Territories file.

Read more: KSA normalization with 'Israel' downplayed, no direct flights

سلم سفير #خادم_الحرمين_الشريفين لدى #الأردن #نايف_بن_بندر_السديري، نسخةً من أوراق اعتماده سفيراً فوق العادة ومفوضاً (غير مقيم) لدى دولة #فلسطين، وقنصلاً عاماً بمدينة #القدس إلى معالي مستشار الرئيس الفلسطيني للشؤون الدبلوماسية #الدكتور_مجدي_الخالدي. pic.twitter.com/As6M6tZOO0

— السفارة في الأردن (@KSAembassyJO) August 12, 2023

Ambassador Nayef bin Bandar is the kingdom's first ambassador to the Palestinian Authority.

Saudi Arabia's embassy in Jordan announced that a ceremony to mark the occasion took place during an event at the Palestinian Embassy in Amman, during which Palestine's Ambassador to Jordan Atallah Khayri was also present.

After the ceremony, Majdi al-Khaldi, Palestinian presidential advisor for diplomatic affairs, said he "welcomed" the appointment.

It "will contribute to strengthening the strong and solid brotherly relations that bind the two countries and the two brotherly peoples," he said. 

Furthermore, an official from the Palestinian Authority remarked that with this announcement "Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its recognition of the state of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital".

"This is one part of several steps and we will continue to develop the relationship with them," he told AFP on condition of anonymity.