Ireland, Norway and Spain have declared that they will recognize a Palestinian state ... officials from each country said.

He added that, in turn, some Middle Eastern countries could formally recognise the State of Israel. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the announcement as “a step in the right direction”.

The ex-Real Madrid midfielder is thought to have shared a picture of a map of Israel featuring a large red cross through the state's name, with the word 'Palestine' underlined in bold letters.