Thousands of people in Buenos Aires participated Monday night in a rally in memory of the Bibas family members and in calling for the release of all hostages from Hamas captivity. The rally was organized by multiple Jewish organizations in Argentina.
The rally took place on Israel Street in the Almagro neighborhood of the Argentine capital. "Under gray and heavy skies, the crowd proceeded holding signs for the release of hostages held in Gaza. They marched with tears in their eyes. The march was not just a protest, it was a cry against the atrocity they have been experiencing since October 7," wrote the local media outlet La Nacion.
Israeli Ambassador to the country, Eyal Sela, participated in the rally and said he was "happy that so many people came to call for the release of the hostages, among them still four Argentine citizens. We are also here to remember the Bibas family."
"Hatikva", el Himno Nacional de Israel, es un canto de esperanza. pic.twitter.com/qon9YFVgWi
— AMIA (@InfoAMIA) February 24, 2025
Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas were Argentine citizens, and after their murder in captivity became known, the country declared a day of mourning and the famous obelisk of the capital was illuminated with their image.
Gabriel Levy, a 45-year-old doctor, told La Nacion: "We saw the pictures of the hostages, most in difficult condition: malnutrition, signs of torture, psychological abuse. This is a war crime and the world needs to act decisively," Levy said. "We are not coming just as Jews – we are coming as human beings to demand justice and freedom."
AMIA President Amos Linetzky attacked the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. "What motivates them to be eager to pursue Israeli authorities for dubious crimes," he said and also added criticism of the Red Cross "which for more than 500 days never cared about the health of the hostages," adding that it is a "supporting actor in a terrorist propaganda circus."
Miriam Katz, a 62-year-old retiree, told La Nacion with her voice choked with tears: "I have lived all my life in Argentina and never thought I would need to take to the streets to demand the release of kidnapped Jews. We cannot be indifferent to the pain of the families. Every hostage who returns tells us things worse than what we imagined. How long will this continue?" she asked in despair.
Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas will be laid to rest tomorrow at the cemetery in Nir Oz. The funeral ceremony itself will be held with the participation of family and invited guests only, but many are expected to accompany the funeral procession that will depart from Rishon LeZion to the kibbutz from which they were kidnapped on October 7.
"In these painful and difficult days, there are no words that can express the magnitude of gratitude we feel towards all of you. The warm embrace, love, and strength you are sending from all corners of the country and the world strengthen us and accompany us in moments of breakdown. We feel the open hearts, the enormous embrace, your pain alongside our pain – and this is not taken for granted," the family wrote in their statement.
