Second Israeli Soldier Leaves India After Gaza Complaint — SkimNews
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- Hind Rajab Foundation filed a criminal complaint on August 18, 2026 against an unnamed IDF soldier holidaying in Himachal Pradesh, alleging his direct involvement in unlawful destruction of civilian property in Abasan al-Saghira, Khan Younis Governorate, between March and April 2024.
- The unnamed IDF soldier left India in mid-September 2026 — the second such departure this year — though it remains unclear whether the complaint prompted his exit or his holiday had ended.
- HRF alleged the conduct could amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide, submitting evidence including the soldier's documented deployment, social media material, and satellite imagery showing destruction of homes and agricultural land.
- In June 2026, HRF filed a separate complaint against IDF reservist Eitan Gilboa of the 271st Combat Engineering Battalion, who was traced to Old Manali and Gondla in Himachal Pradesh and subsequently left India after geolocated videos and chain-of-command documentation were submitted to Indian police and the Bureau of Immigration.
- HRF director general Dyab Abou Jahjah said the India complaint is "part of our commitment and duty to bring perpetrators before the courts" and urged Indian authorities to act on the allegations.
- India remains a popular post-service destination for Israeli soldiers through the "tiul gadol" backpacking tradition, with Israel allocating 4 million shekels in February 2026 to strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation.
Why it matters: Two IDF soldiers identified by HRF in Himachal Pradesh have now left India without any confirmed Indian action on either complaint. Meanwhile, Israel allocated 4 million shekels in February 2026 to strengthen tourism cooperation with India, signaling that the bilateral relationship continues to take precedence over the HRF's legal pursuit.
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