Every December 9, the world remembers the victims of genocide and renews its commitment to prevent one of humanity's most heinous crimes. This day, instituted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 through Resolution 69/323, is intended not only to honor the victims, but also to sensitize the international community to the urgency of acting on the first signs of this crime.

On December 9, 1948, the international community marked a milestone with the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This treaty, which entered into force in 1951, defined genocide as acts intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, and established the obligation to prevent and punish such acts.

Today, we would like to recall the tragic events that occurred against the people of Israel on October 7, 2023 by the terrorist group Hamas; and last July 27 when the terrorist group Hezbollah launched a volley of rockets against northern Israel. These actions, which pose a threat not only to the immediate victims, but to humanity as a whole, have been strongly condemned by our country, which has recognized Hamas as an international terrorist organization since July 12 of this year.

President Javier Milei has emphasized Argentina's commitment to align itself with Western values, respectful of individual rights and its institutions. The Government has expressed its unwavering support for the State of Israel in its struggle to defend itself against these heinous attacks, which come on top of a long history of attacks claimed by Hamas and linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran. These acts of hatred, such as the attacks against the AMIA and the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, have left an indelible mark in the memory of Argentines.

Genocide is a crime against humanity, a threat that demands a forceful and united response from the international community. Today we remember the victims, repudiate the cruelty and reaffirm our conviction to build a country based on dignity, respect, freedom and peace.