This largely symbolic move comes as President Javier Milei aims to strengthen Argentina’s alignment with the U.S. and Israel.
Milei’s office, announcing the decision, referred to Hamas’s cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages, marking the deadliest assault in Israel’s 76-year history.
JMilei’s office emphasised Hamas’ significant ties with Iran, which Argentina blames for two deadly militant attacks on Jewish sites in the country.
The decision comes just days before the 30th anniversary of the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people and injured hundreds more in Argentina’s deadliest attack in modern history.
The second incident, targeting the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires in 1992, resulted in more than 20 fatalities.
Argentina’s judiciary has charged members of Hezbollah, an Iran-supported militant group from Lebanon, with orchestrating both assaults.
On Friday, Milei’s announcement highlighted his “strong commitment to recognising terrorists for what they are”,a that “this represents the first genuine political effort to do so”.
For many years, Hamas has been labeled a terrorist organisation by the U.S., European Union, and several other nations.
The group has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007 and is currently involved in ongoing conflicts with Israel.
Earlier Peronist governments in Argentina, which hosts the largest Jewish community in Latin America, have nurtured friendly relations with Israel while also advocating for Palestinian statehood.
Since taking office in December, Milei has distinguished himself from even Israel’s staunchest allies through his outspoken backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As global pressure mounts, Israel finds itself increasingly isolated due to its military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 38,000 Palestinian fatalities, displaced more than 80% of the population, and created a humanitarian crisis.
“Argentina must realign itself with Western civilisation,” Milei’s office stated on Friday.
During his first state visit as president earlier this year, Milei traveled to Jerusalem to express support for the Israeli government and promised to move Argentina’s embassy to the contested capital, a decision that received praise from Netanyahu and backlash from Hamas.