HRF files war crimes complaint against Israeli soldier in India
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- Hind Rajab Foundation filed a complaint on June 2, 2026 with India's Home Ministry, Bureau of Immigration and police, seeking the arrest of Eitan Gilboa, a member of the 271st Combat Engineering Battalion, for alleged destruction of residential buildings and civilian infrastructure in Khan Yunis and Rafah in 2024.
- The complaint invokes the Fourth Geneva Convention and India's Geneva Conventions Act of 1960, attaching geo-located videos, social media footage — including clips of Gilboa celebrating the destruction that his mother reposted — and chain-of-command documentation; India's government has neither commented nor initiated a probe, though the law permits arrest of any nationality.
- Gilboa was traced by pro-Palestinian activists and HRF to Old Manali and Gondla Village in Himachal Pradesh along India's 'Hummus trail' — a circuit including Kasol, Goa, Kerala, the Andamans and others that draws an estimated 80,000 Israeli visitors annually, many discharged soldiers on post-service trips funded by army bonuses.
- Israel's government allocated 4 million NIS in February 2026 to boost tourism collaboration with India, and the Hummus trail regions now feature Hebrew signage, IDF promotional posters and Israeli-run cafes, hostels and stores.
- HRF Head of Litigation Natacha Bracq warned the post-service trips 'cannot become a route for impunity,' noting the group has secured successful universal jurisdiction outcomes in Brazil, Romania, Peru, Belgium and Canada, with a Chilean court the latest to recognize such jurisdiction in a case against an Israeli-Ukrainian citizen.
- Author Azad Essa told The Hindu the tourism flows are 'part of a broader normalisation process' deepening India-Israel ties as Israel faces an ICJ genocide case filed by South Africa over a Gaza death toll exceeding 73,000 since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Why it matters: India is legally bound under its Geneva Conventions Act, 1960 to act on grave breaches by any nationality, yet has neither commented nor opened a probe as the accused has already fled. The complaint lands amid Israel's 4 million NIS tourism push with India and an ongoing ICJ genocide case, exposing a direct tension between India's deepening bilateral ties with Israel and its international legal obligations.
