Arabic version: منظمة غير حكومية تطالب باعتقال احتياطي إسرائيلي في الهند بتهمة جرائم الحرب
The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Belgium-based NGO, has urged Indian authorities to arrest an Israeli army reservist currently holidaying in Himachal Pradesh over his alleged role in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. The organization filed a complaint with India’s Police Service, foreign affairs ministry, and Bureau of Immigration, calling for the immediate detention of Eitan Gilboa.
HRF claims to possess substantial evidence against Gilboa, including geolocated videos, social media posts, and documentation from his chain of command. The organization alleges that Gilboa celebrated the systematic demolition of entire residential blocks in Gaza, actions they characterize as war crimes under the Geneva Conventions Act of 1960. According to Al Jazeera, the NGO’s name honors a five-year-old girl killed in Gaza, symbolizing its commitment to seeking justice.
Gilboa, who was born in Gaza, reportedly returned to the region as a soldier following the onset of conflict in October 2023, which has resulted in the deaths of over 72,000 Palestinians. HRF’s complaint details how he staged photographs against the backdrop of destroyed Palestinian neighborhoods and documented the demolitions of civilian homes, which he allegedly carried out as acts of retribution.
The NGO argues that Gilboa’s actions violate the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which India is a signatory. They emphasize that India has a legal obligation to prosecute individuals accused of grave breaches of international law. Dyab Abou Jahjah, HRF’s general director, stated that Gilboa should not be allowed to enjoy the hospitality of India while evading accountability for his actions in Gaza.
HRF has previously filed over 1,000 cases to the International Criminal Court, primarily based on content shared by Israeli soldiers themselves. The organization has achieved procedural successes in various countries, including Brazil, Romania, and Canada, and remains committed to pursuing justice for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
