An Israeli soldier accused of alleged war crimes in Gaza has left India weeks after the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Palestinian rights group, filed a criminal complaint against him, according to a report by Middle East Eye.The soldier, whose identity has not been made public, left India in mid-September, a lawyer familiar with the case told Middle East Eye. It remains unclear whether the complaint influenced his departure or whether he left after completing his holiday.The development comes amid renewed calls for countries to uphold international law. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, said multilateralism works best when international law, rules and norms are “scrupulously observed”.
Second Israeli soldier to leave India after complaint
The latest case marks the second incident this year in which the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has identified an Israeli soldier travelling in India and filed a complaint against him.In June, the Brussels-based organisation approached Indian authorities seeking the arrest of Eitan Gilboa, an Israeli military reservist who was vacationing in Himachal Pradesh. HRF accused Gilboa, who was identified as a member of the Israeli military’s 271st Combat Engineering Battalion, of involvement in the demolition of civilian buildings in Khan Younis and Rafah.According to reports, HRF submitted material, including geolocated videos, social media posts and chain-of-command documentation to Indian authorities. Gilboa was subsequently traced by pro-Palestinian activists to locations including Old Manali and Gondla in Himachal Pradesh before leaving India.The latest case has followed a similar sequence, with HRF identifying an Israeli soldier through publicly available information, filing a complaint with Indian authorities and the individual subsequently leaving the country.India has long been a popular destination for young Israelis after their mandatory military service. Many undertake an extended post-service trip, commonly known as “tiul gadol”, which can last several months.The trend has also contributed to the informal “Hummus Trail” followed by Israeli travellers across several Indian destinations, including Kasol, Dharamkot, Goa, Hampi, Gokarna, Kodaikanal, Rishikesh, Varanasi and Pushkar.
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Tourism has also featured in India-Israel bilateral cooperation. In February 2026, Israel allocated 4 million shekels for initiatives aimed at strengthening tourism ties with India.The HRF has increasingly sought to pursue legal complaints against Israeli military personnel over alleged conduct during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The organisation’s complaints have also brought attention to the presence of former and serving Israeli military personnel travelling in countries including India.Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
