Argentina will observe two days of national mourning for Kfir and Ariel Bibas, two Israeli Argentine siblings murdered by Hamas in captivity. President Javier Milei condemned the terrorist group and demanded the release of all hostages. The incident symbolizes broader issues of anti-Semitism and the ongoing violence stemming from the Gaza conflict that emerged after the October 7 attack.
Argentina will observe two days of national mourning following the tragic return of the bodies of Israeli Argentine children, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who had been taken hostage by Hamas. The announcement was made following Hamas’s delivery of the remains of four hostages, three of whom belonged to the Bibas family. While Israeli forensics confirmed the identities of the children, Shiri Bibas, their mother, has not been verified among them as previously claimed by the militants.
President Javier Milei’s office issued a statement vehemently condemning Hamas, saying, “The President’s office expresses its strongest condemnation of the terrorist group Hamas, following confirmation of the murder of the children of the Israeli Argentine Bibas family.” The statement emphasized that the brutal killings, which occurred during captivity, were motivated solely by anti-Semitism.
According to Israeli forensic assessments, the children were murdered while in captivity in November 2023, prompting outrage from multiple leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accused Hamas of violating ceasefire agreements by not returning their mother. Amid these events, a Hamas official suggested that Shiri’s body might have been inadvertently mixed with others killed during airstrikes.
The Bibas children became emblematic figures in the hostilities that erupted following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. During the assault, Hamas filmed the abduction of the Bibas family from their residence near the Gaza border. While the children’s father, Yarden Bibas, was released earlier this month after enduring captivity, he has been separated from his family.
In light of the horrific events, the Argentine government has demanded the unconditional release of all hostages. They expressed a resolute stance against terrorism, stating, “the terrorist group will be reduced to ashes and will become nothing more than a horrible memory in world history.” In a heartfelt message, President Milei also extended condolences to Yarden Bibas, acknowledging the profound suffering he has endured over the course of 484 days of captivity.
The Argentine government’s declaration of national mourning underscores the tragic nature of the Bibas family’s plight as they mourn the loss of Kfir and Ariel Bibas. The incident highlights ongoing tensions and the ramifications of the recent hostilities in the region, while Argentina’s strong condemnation of Hamas reflects broader international concerns about terrorism and violence against civilians. President Milei’s empathy toward Yarden Bibas emphasizes the human cost of such conflicts.
Original Source: www.france24.com
