Argentinian President Milei tells freed hostages he will ‘continue fighting for the cause’

Visiting Argentinian President Javier Milei meets with released hostages and the relatives of victims of the Hamas October 7 attack who have ties to Argentina, including Yarden Bibas.

Yarden’s wife, Shiri, who was murdered in captivity with their two children, Ariel and Kfir, was born in Israel to a father who immigrated from Argentina. Both of Shiri’s parents, Margit and Yossi Silberman, were murdered on October 7.

Also in attendance are Luis Har and Fernando Merman, Argentinian natives and former hostages who were rescued from Gaza last year; Clara Merman, Luis’s partner and Fernando’s sister who was kidnapped and released from Gaza in November 2023; and Ruth Strum, the mother of hostage Eitan Horn, who are both Argentinian-Israeli dual citizens.

Milei’s office says the president had an “emotional meeting” with the group of relatives of victims and hostages.

“I want you to know that I defend you in every forum and every place,” Milei tells the group, in video posted on X of their meeting. “I do it from the heart because I believe in it.”

Milei adds that “I want to be clear that I will continue fighting for the cause and that we will never abandon you… keep it up, even knowing how difficult all of this is.”

Axel Wahnish, Argentina’s ambassador to Israel and a close associate of Milei, writes on X that it is a “source of pride to know that Argentina, with Milei, is on the right side of history.”

El Presidente Javier Milei compartió un encuentro emotivo con familiares argentinos de víctimas y secuestrados durante el ataque terrorista perpetrado por Hamas el 7 de octubre de 2023 en Israel. pic.twitter.com/bZQXNMKUqg

— Oficina del Presidente (@OPRArgentina) June 11, 2025