Ruling coalition presidential candidate Sergio Massa told a gathering hosted by Jewish organisation that Argentina will declare Hamas to be a terrorist organisation if he is elected as president.
The Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAI) Jewish organisation invited political leaders to a gathering to express themselves against “terrorist barbarism in support of the State of Israel" following the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
The remark by Massa, one of a number of leading politicians in attendance, would bring Argentina in-line with several Western nations. Hamas is designated a terrorist group by the United States and European Union, among others, and efforts to outlaw the group have increased following the group's brutal attack on Israel on October 7.
“If on December 10 I have the responsibility to govern Argentina, we will include Hamas on the list of terrorist organisations, because this was a terrorist attack,” the Unión por la Patria presidential candidate declared at the gathering at the Four Seasons Hotel in Buenos Aires.
He elaborated as to the conflict: “We’re facing a very complex international context because we’re marked by an event that, based on a terrorist attack by an organisation, has changed global geopolitics and once again puts the international community on alert in the face of the risk of anti-Semitism."
The ruling coalition hopeful, regarding his potential future administration as head of state, repeated his call to the opposition, stressing: “I’ll call a government of national unity, which means calling the best, no matter where they come from."
The gathering was also attended by former presidential candidate for Juntos por el Cambio, Patricia Bullrich, and Buenos Aires City Mayor, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta.
Massa's libertarian rival in the run-off, Javier Milei, was invited to the event, but did not attend. Other La Libertad Avanza leaders such as Diana Mondino were present.
“It’s a tragedy for all of us, not just the people in such a cold situation as kidnapping, but for all humanity. If we don’t respect basic cohabitation rules, if there’s terrorism, there’s no way for anyone to be at ease,” Mondino said during the event.
DAIA Preisdent Jorge Knoblovits, spoke about the importance of political figures at the event being present at the event to show their support to Israel.
“There is a message, a common thread we can agree on. Especially in a place like Argentina, which had two terrorist incidents," said Knoblovits, referring to the 1992 attack on the Israeli Embassy and the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires.
Other notable names in attendance included US Ambassador Marc Stanley, Buenos Aires City Public Affairs Secretary Waldo Wolff, and former mayoral candidate for La Libertad Avanza, Ramiro Marra.
– TIMES/NA
Comments