Alberto Fernandez pledged to seek the release of Argentines kidnapped in Israel

From China, as part of his last official tour as president, Alberto Fernández held an emotional virtual meeting with relatives of Argentines who were kidnapped by Hamas in Israel, assuring that “the entire Argentine government is working tirelessly” to guarantee the release of the hostages. In a video call that moved the nation, the Argentine president listened to the heartbreaking testimonies of Pablo Roitman and Amos Horn, whose relatives were kidnapped by Hamas after an attack on the kibbutz where they live, located near the Gaza Strip. During the meeting, some of the family members present asked the president to make use of Argentina’s diplomatic relations with countries such as Qatar and Egypt to mediate in the search and release of the kidnapped Argentines. Fernandez, visibly committed to the situation, said he was fully involved in the mission to find the Argentine hostages and bring them safely back to their homes. “It’s an extremely complex issue, as many of their family members are in the hands of terrorists whose identities we don’t know,” he said. We are exploring all possible avenues to establish some kind of contact and negotiation, although we know that these organizations operate in absolute secrecy. I would like to convey to you the certainty that we are as committed as you are to resolving this problem. The entire Argentine Government is working tirelessly to bring about his return. It is extremely painful to know that Argentines and human beings are going through this situation. But I want you to know that we are here with you,” he said. During the conversation, the president revealed a distressing fact: “We have information that there are 16 Argentine citizens kidnapped by Hamas. Most worryingly, we are dealing with a band of terrorists capable of committing unimaginable atrocities. However, we are tirelessly searching for ways to reach them and bring them back safely. We are working closely with Israeli intelligence to obtain crucial information in this operation.” Fernández underlined the difficulty of the situation, as the Argentine government lacks contacts in the Gaza Strip and has received a negative response from the Palestinian authorities in the West Bank regarding any link with Hamas. However, he reiterated his commitment and the moral duty he feels towards the abductees and their families. “We want their loved ones to show up and come back alive, and for this nightmare they are living through to come to an end,” he said. The President did not mince words in strongly condemning the act of terrorism perpetrated by Hamas, calling it inadmissible, unforgivable and unspeakable. “The only thing we do is condemn this attitude of this terrorist group. What happened cannot be tolerated, allowing death, deprivation of liberty and the disappearance, even momentarily, of people,” he vehemently declared. In an emotional closing, he promised the affected families that he will put “all his efforts so that these faces of worry and pain become faces of tranquility in a short time.”

Original source in Spanish