Argentina has declared a two-day national mourning period for the Bibas children, who were murdered by Hamas. President Javier Milei condemned Hamas’s actions and extended condolences to the children’s father, Yarden Bibas. The incident highlights the tragic reality of the ongoing conflict, as the boys became symbols of the hostage crisis following their abduction in October 2023.
On Thursday, Argentina declared a two-day national mourning period following the return of the bodies of two Israeli Argentine children, Shiri Bibas and her sons Kfir and Ariel, who were kidnapped by Hamas. The announcement followed the confirmation from Israeli forensics regarding the identities of the Bibas boys. However, it was clarified that Shiri Bibas’s body was among those unaccounted for, contrary to Hamas’s claims.
President Javier Milei’s office released an official statement condemning Hamas, expressing profound sorrow over the murder of the Bibas children. The statement emphasized, “It is monstrous that such events occurred in this century, and that their deaths were motivated by a single motive: being Jewish.” This tragic incident highlights the horrific reality of the ongoing conflict.
According to Israel’s National Center of Forensic Medicine, the Bibas children were brutally murdered in captivity by Hamas in November 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Hamas for their actions, claiming that they had violated ceasefire agreements by withholding the mother, Shiri Bibas. A Hamas official later suggested that Shiri’s body may have been mistakenly mixed with others buried in rubble during airstrikes.
The abduction of the Bibas family became symbolic of the broader hostage crisis. On October 7, 2023, during an attack on Israel, Hamas captured the family, broadcasting footage of their abduction. The ages of the boys at the time of the kidnapping were notably tragic; Ariel was four years old, and Kfir was just nine months. Their father, Yarden Bibas, had been released earlier but remained disconnected from his family.
In its statement, the Argentine government emphasized its demand for the release of all hostages and expressed hope for Hamas’s decline into irrelevance in history. In addition, President Milei extended condolences to Yarden Bibas, acknowledging the severe distress inflicted upon him after 484 days of captivity, now compounded by the loss of his children.
Argentina has officially observed two days of national mourning for the Bibas children following their tragic deaths, declared by President Javier Milei, who condemned the actions of Hamas. The Israeli government confirmed the murders, while also emphasizing the need for the release of all hostages and the condemnation of such violence. The ordeal encapsulates the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict and the suffering of families caught in the crisis.
Original Source: www.france24.com
