Statement by OAS secretary calls Hamas a “terrorist group”, sparks new controversy

A statement by the general secretariat of the Organization of American States (OEA) on Monday about the Islamist group Hamas, generated immense satisfaction among much of the local Jewish community, but surprised at the same time to different governments, including Argentina. You don’t agree with the document, you might know Bugle, although there is no statement.

In fact, the tension between Tel Aviv and the government of Alberto Fernández is precisely because the local statement criticized Israel’s “disproportionate use” of force, and instead there is no had any mention of Hamas or its terrorist tactics. launch “has been criticized, which led Ambassador Galit Ronen to complain that this “did not reflect” the friendship between him and her country.

Almagro Declaration

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro’s statement on Monday is titled: “Qualification of Hamas as a terrorist organization by the General Secretariat”.

He begins by saying that “the recent attacks launched by Hamas against the Israeli civilian population undoubtedly constitute attacks of a terrorist nature”. And he continued: “The terrorist aggression by Hamas is unlimited and always seeks civilian casualties, seeks to intensify the dynamics of the conflict and armed actions, as well as to sow terror on innocent populations, be they Israelis. or Palestinian. “

The declaration speaks of “the immoral and unworthy use of children and women as human shields, as well as the militarization of residential areas, considers positive” the invocation of the principle of self-defense by Israel. “

And finally, he concludes by stating that “the attacks by Hamas constitute an attack on the peace and security of Israel and the region, and make it imperative to categorize Hamas as a terrorist organization for the General Secretariat of the United Nations. American States ”.

Although the OAS General Secretariat is the central organ of the regional body and the declaration of Hamas as a “terrorist organization” may have political impact and possibly lead the countries of the organization to promote a vote in favor of a resolution will be a theme with strong internal divisions and that it might not materialize.

Besides, Fernández maintains a open confrontation with Almagro for matters related to Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela.

Following the statement by the OAS General Secretariat on Monday, Bugle He consulted various Argentine and Latin American authorities for their advice and they agreed to separate the decisions.

In the government, they remarked: “One thing is a statement by the secretary general and another is a vote of the countries and it did not happen.” They consider that “time” will give them “the reason” because they say that there is more and more criticism in the United States and in Europe on the option of war of Benjamin Netanyahu against the group Hamas, which makes many civilian and innocent victims on the Palestinian side.

They also continue to defend the statement they issued as an option based on the words of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which are completely different from Almagro’s, and critics of the Israeli option, but which also have no impact. beyond the secretary of the agency.

In the region, in addition to Argentina, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico criticized the Israeli action. But it is interesting to refer to the time when Mauricio Macri ruled when the debate over what to do with Hamas collapsed when it was finally decided to include Hezbollah in a national list of terrorist groups. belonging to Argentina.

In July 2019, Buenos Aires hosted a anti-terrorism summit to which Donald Trump’s Secretary of State came, Mike Pompeo. He was received by Foreign Minister Faurie, and in the heat of the discussions, as Hezbollah was debated, the United States lobbied for Hamas to be considered a terrorist organization as well.

Finally, this debate, which was complex, ended with Argentina – which until then considered the groups listed at the United Nations as terrorists – only recognizing Hezbollah as such.

In particular, it was decided on this option taking into account that Hezbollah is considered by Argentinian courts to be responsible for the attacks on the Israeli embassy (1992, 29 dead) and AMIA (1994, 85 dead. ).

This issue was then the subject of tension between the Fernández government and Israel because, by assuming its administration, sectors of Christianity wanted to eliminate the Shiite group from this list, which was ultimately not the case.

Now you know Bugle, it is not at all the intention of this government to debate whether or not Hamas is. It is claimed that Gates Inside Kirchnerism is a Palestinian resistance movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, and they avoid discussing the use of terror by their military arm. At the Instituto Patria, headed by the former president and now vice-president Cristina Kirchner, an activity was organized in 2020 in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Hamas is a terrorist group for Israel, United States, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Jordan. And then in the region, it was defined by Colombia and Paraguay.

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