Eitan Gilboa likely left India days after the Hind Rajab Foundation filed a complaint against him, demanding his arrest.
Written by: Azad Essa, June 18, 2026.
An Israeli reservist vacationing in India and accused of war crimes by the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) appears to have fled the country, a lawyer connected to the case told Middle East Eye on Thursday.
According to the lawyer, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, Eitan Gilboa, a member of Israel's 271st Combat Engineer Battalion, likely left India, where he was vacationing, days after the complaint was filed.
The development comes just two weeks after the Brussels-based HRF filed a complaint with Indian authorities demanding Gilboa's arrest on suspicion of crimes against humanity in Gaza. The organization said Gilboa participated in the demolition of residential areas in Gaza, which he documented with videos and photographs and shared on social media.
These recordings show Gilboa ordering and celebrating the destruction of civilian homes in Khan Younis and Rafah during Israel's war in Gaza - a conflict that has been recognized as genocide by the United Nations, human rights organizations, and genocide researchers.
According to evidence in the possession of HRF, these acts violate the Fourth Geneva Convention and constitute a war crime under the Indian Geneva Conventions Act, 1960.
„Eitan Gilboa is not a tourist. He is a war criminal currently enjoying the hospitality of India while fleeing the consequences of his crimes,” said Dyab Abou Jahjah, CEO of HRF, at the time of the complaint. He added that New Delhi should not allow its land to „become a safe haven for those who celebrate the destruction of civilian lives.”.
„Lukewarm” response
HRF said the filing against Gilboa is just one of a global campaign to track down and hold accountable those suspected of Israeli war crimes. Since its inception in 2024, HRF has filed more than 90 criminal complaints in 30 jurisdictions.
Along with Thailand and Sri Lanka, India has become a popular destination for young Israelis who have completed their military service. It is estimated that tens of thousands of Israelis travel to India every year – especially to the foothills of the Himalayas, the so-called „Hummus Trail” – to relax, party and unwind.
Gilboa, who was born in an illegal Israeli settlement in Gaza, traveled to the Gaza Strip with the Israeli army following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. After his service, he traveled to India, where he was seen in the villages of Old Manali and Gondla, among others.
The lawyer said India had responded „lukewarmly” to the complaint, despite its obligations under the 1960 Geneva Convention. „We expected some action to be taken and India to take steps to enforce its obligations, but the immigration department just sent an email asking for the HRF contact number,” the lawyer said, adding that no further action was taken after that.
India–Israel relations
On June 16, the New York-based Polis Project reported that, according to documents reviewed by HRF, the complaint was forwarded to the Department of Foreigners at the Home Office, which is normally responsible for revoking visas. However, no action was taken to remove the person within the time frame provided.
In its June 2 complaint, HRF demanded that Indian authorities immediately arrest Gilboa, initiate formal proceedings against him, and order his deportation if arrest is not feasible.
This is the first such complaint in India and comes amid flourishing ties between India and Israel. Earlier this year, the two countries elevated their relationship to a „Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity,” with military and economic agreements at its core.
The Israeli government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has repeatedly praised New Delhi's diplomatic support over the past two and a half years. India has refused to support South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide and has also abstained from an arms embargo on Israel while continuing to supply military components to the country.
In May, an Al Jazeera analysis showed that since January 2024, the ICJ ruling, India was among the five countries that had supplied the most military-related goods to Israel.
