Argentina was poised to declare a national day of mourning for Kfir and Ariel Bibas, the two young brothers with dual Israeli-Argentine citizenship who were to be handed over to Israel Thursday following their apparent murder in Hamas captivity. They were to be handed over along with another fallen hostage, Oded Lifshitz.
"I am informed by the government that they will wait for official information on the DNA results of the bodies and that, if confirmed, Argentina will then declare a National Day of Mourning in their honour, " President of the Argentinian Commission for Human Rights Sabrina Ajmeche, revealed the planned move on Wednesday.
"Two Argentinian babies assassinated because of Hamas terrorism," she wrote. "I hope that never again, after this, I have to hear that what happens in Israel and Gaza is not our concern, of all Argentines."
The brothers – Kfir, aged 1.5 years, and Ariel, aged 5 – were taken hostage from Nir-Oz during Hamas's October 7 attack along with their parents, Yarden and Shiri Bibas. Yarden was released recently as part of the implementation of the ongoing hostage deal with Hamas.
The brothers held Argentine citizenship through their father Yarden Bibas, who was recently released from captivity. "A huge hug to the Bibas family. Today, all Argentines are with you," Ajmechet added in her statement.
President Javier Milei's administration has maintained strong support for Israel throughout the conflict. The Argentine leader has visited Israel multiple times since October 7 and issued forceful condemnations of the attack. In a December 2024 letter, Milei wrote, "Silence is complicity, and it compels us to condemn the brutal and cowardly terrorist attack of October 7." On Wednesday, the Argentinian ambassador to Israel Axel Wahnish wrote on X : "Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas: EVERYONE IS THINKING ABOUT YOU. We are going through one of the most sensitive and tragic moments since that fateful Oct. 7. We accompany and support family members."
On Wednesday, an account that might be associated with Milei posted on X an image showing Shiri, Kfir and Ariel with the caption: "Blessed be their memories" and "Blessed is the True Judge. These phrases are traditionally said in Jewish mourning to acknowledge God's judgment
The president's office has not issued additional comments regarding the national day of mourning at this time.
