Rights organisation files ‘war crimes’ complaint with India against Israeli soldier spotted along ‘hummus trail’
On June 2, 2026, the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Palestinian rights organisation based in Brussels, filed a complaint with the Union Ministry of Home
On June 2, 2026, the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Palestinian rights organisation based in Brussels, filed a complaint with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Bureau of Immigration and the police to arrest Eitan Gilboa, an Israeli soldier, who was found to be vacationing in Himachal Pradesh. Gilboa, a member of the 271st Combat Engineering Battalion, was accused by the organisation of committing “war crimes in Gaza” in 2024. The organisation submitted evidence that involves specific instances in which he participated in the destruction of residential buildings and civilian infrastructure in Khan Yunis and Rafah. He filmed videos of himself celebrating the execution of these activities, which were later posted on social media by his mother. The HRF provided geo-located videos, social media videos and chain-of-command documentation along with the complaint. Data | Around 2% of Gaza’s child population killed by Israeli security forces: UN report Legal dimensions The HRF alleged that these activities by Gilboa were in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which India is a signatory. Under this convention, any intentional launch of an attack which is known to cause loss of life or injury to civilians, along with severe damage to civilian objects, is considered to be a war crime and a grave breach of the convention. Though India does not have its own law criminalising war crimes, it has passed the Geneva Conventions Act, 1960. Under this law, any act which constitutes a ‘grave breach’ under four sections of the Geneva Convention is criminalised.
India can arrest any person, irrespective of nationality, if found to have committed an offence under the convention, regardless of the geographical location of the offence. If an arrest is not possible, the Home Ministry and the Bureau of Immigration can facilitate the deportation of the accused from Indian territory. However, the Union government did not issue a statement regarding the allegations by HRF, nor did it initiate a probe. Comment | India’s ‘Israel habit’ meets West Asian realities ‘Hummus trail’ Though Gilboa has now fled India, he was traced by pro-Palestinian activists and the HRF in Old Manali and Gondla Village of Himachal Pradesh, which are popular spots among Israelis along the ‘Hummus trail’. Every year, around 80,000 Israelis visit India, a large number of them young veterans who have been discharged from the mandatory Israeli army service. This trip, known as the tiul gadol, could last up to 6 months or a year and is mainly funded by the bonus they receive after serving in the army. In February 2026, the Israeli government allocated 4 million NIS to boost tourism collaboration with India. From the north to the south of the country, there are several areas which are frequented by Israelis, and this is colloquially known as the ‘Hummus trail in India’. This includes Kasol (also known as mini-Israel), Kodaikanal, Kerala, Goa, Hampi, Gokarna, Rishikesh, Varanasi, Pushkar, Almora, Dharamkot and, more recently, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The BriefWire