Israeli soldier not arrested in India after rights groups’ complaints — Dawn

In India, Israeli soldier Eitan Gilboa was not arrested after the Hind Rajab Foundation filed complaints over statements about his possible involvement in the destruction of Palestinian residential buildings in the Gaza Strip. Gilboa later left India, Dawn reports in an opinion column by Rafia Zakaria, a lawyer and lecturer in constitutional law and political philosophy.

Complaints concerning Gilboa

According to the Hind Rajab Foundation, videos obtained by the organization show Gilboa and his unit blowing up residential buildings and celebrating their destruction. The foundation analyzes open-source data to identify Israeli military personnel who, it claims, may be involved in war crimes.

The organization states that in June 2024, Gilboa ordered the demolition of several buildings in Rafah, and in July was involved in another demolition. In the foundation’s view, these actions may violate the Fourth Geneva Convention.

After analyzing photographs and other materials from Gilboa’s trip to India, the foundation filed complaints with the Himachal Pradesh police, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Bureau of Immigration, seeking his arrest.

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Route of Israeli tourists

The column notes that many Israeli military personnel travel around India along a route known as the “Hummus Trail.” It includes Kasol, the Parvati Valley, Dharamkot, and Tosh in Himachal Pradesh, as well as Pushkar in Rajasthan and Goa.

The author cites an estimate according to which about 80,000 Israeli soldiers travel to India every year. Zakaria also writes about close ideological, economic, and military ties between India and Israel, mentioning India’s law amending citizenship legislation and Israel’s 2018 nation-state law.

The publication is an opinion column and contains Zakaria’s assessments of India’s policies, its relations with Israel, and its treatment of Israeli tourists.