By: Fern Sidman

For the first time since the deadly bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires three decades ago, the U.S. Congress officially commemorated the attack in a solemn ceremony this week — a milestone event held against a backdrop of heightened tensions with Iran, the country long believed to have orchestrated the massacre.

As reported by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), the commemoration took place at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Organized by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in cooperation with the Argentine Embassy in Washington and AMIA, the ceremony marked a historic recognition of an act of terror that has profoundly shaped the Jewish experience in Argentina and reverberated worldwide.

The JTA report highlighted that the July 18, 1994, attack — the deadliest antisemitic assault in Argentina’s history — killed 85 people, injured more than 300 others, and obliterated the AMIA building in Buenos Aires. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency report traced the historical arc of this event, emphasizing its significance not only for Argentina’s Jewish community but for the global fight against terrorism.

Speaking at the Washington event, Reed Rubinstein, legal advisor to the U.S. Department of State, underscored Argentina’s recent judicial developments in the case. As JTA reported, Rubinstein referenced the landmark 2023 ruling by Argentina’s judiciary that officially attributed responsibility for the bombing to Hezbollah, with Iran accused of having ordered the attack. He further noted the Argentine Supreme Court’s decision to pursue a trial in absentia for those accused — a significant legal and symbolic breakthrough after years of stalled investigations and accusations of political interference.

“These are important steps toward justice for the victims and toward restoring accountability and deterrence,” Rubinstein told attendees. Rubinstein’s remarks also included a sobering reminder that Jewish institutions remain perennial targets of violence, underscoring the relevance of the AMIA case in today’s security landscape.

The JTA report emphasized that this congressional commemoration was part of a series of memorials held globally during the anniversary week. These observances came shortly after intensified U.S. and Israeli actions targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, amid an international climate reshaped by Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah in 2024 and political transformations within Argentina itself.

One of the most significant changes has been Argentina’s shift in leadership under President Javier Milei, a self-proclaimed admirer of Israel and outspoken advocate for the Jewish community. The JTA also reported on Milei’s active engagement with Jewish and Israeli causes, noting his multiple visits to Israel and his administration’s pledge to pursue justice in the AMIA case.

In Buenos Aires, a commemorative ceremony was held last Friday outside the reconstructed AMIA building. Although President Milei did not address the crowd, he expressed unwavering commitment to achieving justice. “We won’t stop until justice is done,” he told reporters.

At the same Buenos Aires gathering, Osvaldo Armoza — AMIA’s newly appointed president — issued a stark warning regarding Iran’s ongoing activities in the region. The JTA report quoted Armoza as stating, “Iran is more active than ever in Latin America. The AMIA attack cannot be understood as an isolated incident.” Armoza, an attorney by profession, assumed leadership of AMIA just one month prior to the anniversary and has since emerged as a vocal advocate for justice in the case.

Armoza’s remarks also lauded the Argentine government’s steadfast support for Israel, particularly in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel. His acknowledgment of the government’s solidarity drew some of the loudest applause at the Buenos Aires ceremony.

Despite the various investigations and international condemnations, no individual has been convicted in connection with the AMIA bombing. As JTA has frequently reported, both Argentina and Israel have consistently pointed to Tehran and Hezbollah as the masterminds behind the attack, as well as behind the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires — another act of terror that claimed 29 lives.

Adding to the global scope of the commemorations, a solemn ceremony was also held in Israel. Argentina’s ambassador to Israel, Rabbi Axel Wahnish, attended a memorial service at the Israeli Knesset on Monday. The event served as a poignant reminder of the enduring bond between the Argentine and Israeli peoples in confronting shared threats.

The JTA report provided background on AMIA’s central role within the Argentine Jewish community. Originally founded to assist European Jewish immigrants, AMIA has evolved into one of the most prominent Jewish organizations in Argentina, serving a community estimated at around 200,000. AMIA’s scope today includes a broad range of social services, management of a Jewish cemetery, and hosting of educational and cultural programs — often extending support beyond the Jewish community itself.

The presence of AMIA at the heart of Argentine Jewish life and its symbolic status as a target of terrorism have ensured that the attack remains a powerful touchstone for Jewish communities worldwide. The bombing’s legacy continues to influence both domestic and international dialogues on terrorism, justice, and Jewish communal security.

This year’s commemorations coincided with a period of heightened scrutiny of Iran’s influence in Latin America and the persistent specter of Hezbollah’s regional operations. Against this backdrop, the efforts by the Argentine judiciary and government have been portrayed in the JTA report as significant gestures toward breaking a historical pattern of impunity and neglect in the AMIA investigation.

While the victims’ families and the broader Jewish community await tangible justice, the global attention to this year’s remembrance events — particularly the unprecedented congressional ceremony in Washington — represents a shift in the narrative. Advocates hope these initiatives will renew international pressure on Iran and Hezbollah and galvanize further judicial action in Argentina.

For the victims and their families, and for communities watching from afar, the AMIA bombing remains a tragic symbol of unchecked terror and the unyielding quest for justice. The commemorations held this week are a solemn reaffirmation that the pursuit of accountability — even after thirty years — remains an essential moral and political imperative.