Argentina Becomes First South American Country to Designate Hamas as Terrorist Organization, Freezes Assets

Jul 13, 2024, 03:21 AM

Argentina has officially designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, becoming the first country in South America to do so. President Javier Milei's government announced the decision on Friday, citing Hamas' October 7th attack on Israel and its links to Iran, which Argentina blames for past attacks on Jewish targets in Buenos Aires in the 1990s. The designation includes a freeze on Hamas' financial assets in Argentina. This largely symbolic move is seen as part of Milei's efforts to align Argentina more closely with the United States and Israel. 'Argentina must once again align itself with Western civilization,' Milei's office said.