Argentina has officially designated Hamas as a terrorist organization and has ordered the seizure of all its financial assets. This announcement was made public on Saturday, July 13, as reported by Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based news outlet.
The decision was prompted by an attack carried out by Hamas fighters on October 7 last year in an Israeli settlement deemed illegal. According to a statement from the Argentine President’s office, this action was necessary to address the violent acts attributed to Hamas.
President Javier Milei, known for his far-right political stance, views this move as symbolic of his administration’s intent to strengthen ties with the United States and Israel. Earlier this year, during his first state visit as president, Milei traveled to Jerusalem to demonstrate his support for the Israeli government, even promising to establish an Argentine embassy there—a commitment that was highly praised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, this designation has faced harsh criticism from Palestinians. President Milei, who was raised in the Roman Catholic faith, has expressed a strong affinity for Judaism. He has previously likened Hamas’ attacks last year in Israel to the Holocaust and described the organization’s activities as “21st-century Nazism.”
Before Argentina’s formal recognition, several other countries and entities including Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the European Union had already recognized Hamas as a terrorist organization. Additionally, in 2003, Australia listed Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, as a terrorist group.