Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has formally urged Indian authorities to arrest an Israeli reservist vacationing in the country's north, accusing him of war crimes related to the Gaza conflict.
In a complaint filed with Indian police, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Immigration Bureau on December 21, HRF demanded the “immediate arrest” of Eitan Gilboa, an Israeli citizen currently traveling in Himachal Pradesh. The organization's investigative report alleges that Gilboa, a reservist in the Israeli military, directly carried out and celebrated the systematic destruction of entire residential areas in Gaza, framing it as an act of revenge, thereby violating the 1960 Geneva Conventions.
Evidence submitted by HRF includes geolocated videos, social media posts, and documents related to the chain of command. Specifically, Gilboa is seen ordering, executing, and celebrating the destruction of civilian homes in Khan Younis and Rafah. Gilboa's mother later shared these videos across multiple social media platforms, accompanied by posts implying the destruction was retaliatory and dedicated to fallen IDF soldiers.
HRF added that Gilboa is accused of violating the Fourth Geneva Convention, which India ratified in November 1950. As a signatory, India has a legal obligation under Article 146 of the Geneva Convention to search for and prosecute individuals accused of grave breaches, regardless of nationality. Additionally, Gilboa's presence in India is said to contradict Article 51(c) of the Indian Constitution, which mandates the state to promote respect for international law.
Dyab Abou Jahjah, HRF's director general, emphasized: “Eitan Gilboa is not a tourist. He is a war criminal enjoying India's hospitality while evading the consequences of his crimes. He openly recorded himself turning entire neighborhoods in Gaza to ashes, dedicating these massacres to fallen soldiers as acts of revenge. India must act immediately to arrest him and not allow its country to become a safe haven for those celebrating civilian destruction.”
HRF, established after the death of five-year-old Hind Rajab in January 2024, has gathered lawyers and activists worldwide. The organization has submitted over 1,000 complaints to the International Criminal Court (ICC), primarily based on social media content shared by Israeli soldiers.
Eitan Gilboa, born in Gaza and whose family left after Israel's withdrawal in September 2005, returned to Gaza as a reservist from October 2023. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the conflict has resulted in over 72,000 Palestinian deaths. As of now, Al Jazeera has been unable to reach Gilboa while he vacations in the northern Indian town of Manali.
Previously, HRF stated it had filed over 90 criminal complaints across 30 jurisdictions, yielding successful procedural outcomes in Brazil, Romania, Peru, Belgium, and Canada.
