President of Argentina visits devastated kibbutz, likens Hamas atrocities to Holocaust

‘We see clear examples of terrorism and antisemitism and what I would describe as 21st century Nazism.’

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Argentina’s president Javier Milei visited Nir Oz, a kibbutz devastated on October 7th by Hamas and said the atrocities reminded him of the Holocaust.

He declared, “We see clear examples of terrorism and antisemitism and what I would describe as 21st Century Nazism.”

A quarter of the population of Nir Oz were either murdered (38) or taken hostage (77) by Hamas.

Milei was accompanied by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Ofelia Roitman, a freed hostage who was returning to Nir Oz for the first time since she was freed as part of a hostage exchange deal in November 28.

Roitman, along with many others who were murdered and kidnapped in Nir Oz, is an Argentinian national, as are Shiri and Yarden Bibas and their two boys, Ariel, 4, and Kfir, then 9 months old, all of whom are still captives in Gaza.

In addition, Yair and Eitan Horn who are still held hostage are also of Argentinian descent.

Milei also met with the parents of Argentinian David Cunio, who is still in captivity in Gaza while his wife and 3-year old twin daughters were freed in November.

Of the remaining 136 hostages, 15 are Argentinian nationals.

“When we saw the pictures, we were filled with horror, but now to see things for myself, up close, it is a more disturbing and powerful experience,” Milei said.

On the subject of the hostages, Milei declared, “We will continue to demand the release of all of the hostages, regardless of the nationality.”

He added, “Of course, there are Argentine nationals among the hostages, but this is a crime against humanity, and this must be redressed.”

He also said he sent a bill to the Argentina’s Congress to demand the immediate release of all the hostages.

Milei emphasized his support for Israel and criticized those who remain indifferent in the face of Hamas crimes against Israelis.

“We strongly condemned the terrorist acts of the terrorist group Hamas, and we continue to reaffirm our solidarity towards the people and the State of Israel and our support for Israel’s right to legitimate self-defense. ”

He added, “Again, we see that it was the indifference of the free world that made the Nazi Holocaust possible.”

When Milei arrived in Israel on Tuesday, he announced that he would move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem and have Hamas declared a terrorist organization.