Argentina's Javier Milei declares Hamas 'international terrorist organization'

Argentina has declared the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas an "international terrorist organisation" over its 7 October assault on Israel and an "extensive history" of attacks, the presidency announced.

"The Hamas group has been declared by the Argentine state as an international terrorist organisation," the office of libertarian President Javier Milei said in a statement Friday night, citing "an extensive record of terrorist attacks on their behalf."

The statement added that Milei, who has presented himself as a close ally of Israel, "has an unwavering commitment to recognise terrorists for what they are."

The 7 October Hamas attack on southern Israel resulted in 1,195 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. The militants also seized 251 hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza, including 42 the military says are dead.

Israel's military offensive against the enclave has killed at least 38,664 people, also mostly civilians, with a further 89,097 wounded, according to the Gaza's health ministry. Much of the enclave is in rubble, where residents face internal displacement, disease and famine.

The European Union and the United States also consider Hamas a terrorist organisation.

Milei visited Israel in February, where he made waves by likening Hamas's attack to the Holocaust and announced plans to move the Argentinian embassy to Jerusalem.

The president grew up Catholic but has displayed an enthusiasm for orthodox Jewish thought, regularly consulting with a rabbi and describing himself last year as a "Torah scholar".

His staunch support for Israel has sparked fears that Argentina's Jewish community could be vulnerable to attack.

Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America, with some 300,000 members. It is also home to immigrant communities from the Middle East - from Syria and Lebanon in particular.

Milei's office also condemned Hamas's "link" with Iran.

In April, Argentina expressed its "solidarity and unwavering commitment" to Israel following an Iranian strike targeting Israel.