Buenos Aires, 13 July — Argentina has become the first country in South America to officially designate Hamas, the Palestinian independence organization, as a "terrorist organization." President Javier Milley announced this significant policy shift on Friday, aligning Argentina more closely with Israel and the United States in their stance against Hamas.

The presidential office released an official statement confirming the designation and ordering the seizure of all assets related to individuals and organizations connected to Hamas. The statement also condemned the October 7 attack on Israel, describing it as the worst assault in Tel Aviv's history. 

President Milley expressed strong opposition to the actions of Hamas and criticized Iran for its support of the Palestinian group. The statement, which was also shared on the President's social media accounts, emphasized Argentina's stance against terrorism and its commitment to maintaining global security.

The decision to blacklist Hamas is seen as a move to bolster Argentina's diplomatic relations with Israel. In recent years, Argentina has shown support for the Netanyahu administration, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties with Israel.

This development marks a significant step in Argentina's foreign policy, reflecting a growing trend among nations to take a firmer stance against groups designated as terrorist organizations. The move is likely to have substantial implications for Argentina's diplomatic relations in the Middle East and beyond.