30th Anniversary of Jewish Center Bombing: Argentina Pays Tribute as President Milei Promises Justice

Argentina’s Jewish community commemorated the 30th anniversary of the devastating bombing that took 85 lives, as President Javier Milei vowed to rectify decades of investigative shortcomings.

In 1994, a bomb-laden van targeted the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, marking the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in the nation’s history.

“Today we chose to speak out, not stay silent,” Milei declared on Wednesday evening. “We’re raising our voice, not folding our arms. We choose life, because anything else is making a game out of death.”

Milei attended the Thursday commemoration in Buenos Aires, where a video clip showed his arrival shared widely on social media. This April, Argentina’s top criminal court held Iran accountable for orchestrating the attack, implicating Hezbollah terrorists acting under Iranian direction. Tehran has consistently denied involvement and refused to extradite suspects, leaving previous investigations and Interpol warrants unresolved.

A staunch supporter of the Jewish community and Israel, Milei announced plans to introduce a bill allowing trials in absentia for the suspects. He also committed to enhancing national intelligence to prevent future attacks and allocating more resources to the ongoing AMIA investigation.

Argentine prosecutors have charged senior Iranian officials and Hezbollah members for both the AMIA bombing and the 1992 Israeli embassy attack in Buenos Aires, which claimed 22 lives.

“Although they may never serve a sentence, they cannot escape the eternal condemnation of a court proving their guilt to the world,” Milei stated, hailing the April court ruling as a significant milestone while acknowledging the persistent obstacles posed by Iran’s cover-up.

In a further stance against terrorism, Milei recently designated Hamas a terrorist organization following its attack on Israel on October 7, urging the release of hostages, including eight Argentines. He drew parallels between this attack and the 1994 Buenos Aires bombing, underscoring his administration's firm stance on justice and security.

In remembering the victims and pursuing justice, Argentina affirms its commitment to combating terrorism and honoring the memory of those lost in the AMIA tragedy. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on stories like this.