Belgian NGO calls for Indian authorities to detain Israeli reservist accused of war crimes

A Belgian-based NGO has filed a complaint with Indian authorities, requesting the arrest of an Israeli army reservist currently on holiday in northern India. The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) claims to have evidence linking Eitan Gilboa, an Israeli citizen, to alleged war crimes committed during Israel’s conflict with Gaza.

According to HRF, Gilboa, a reservist in the Israeli army, is accused of carrying out and celebrating the demolition of entire residential blocks in Gaza as acts of revenge. The NGO cites geolocated videos, social media posts, and chain-of-command documentation as evidence.

The HRF was formed after a five-year-old girl was killed in a car accident in Gaza by Israel in January 2024. The organization has gathered lawyers and activists from around the world to prepare cases against individuals accused of war crimes in Gaza.

Gilboa’s family left Gaza after Israel’s withdrawal in September 2005, but he returned as a soldier during the conflict that began in October 2023. HRF claims that Gilboa staged photographs recreating scenes of his youth, juxtaposing himself against the ruins of Palestinian playgrounds and children’s toys amidst the rubble.

The organization has filed over 1,000 cases with the International Criminal Court, primarily based on social media content shared by Israeli soldiers themselves. They argue that India is obligated to search for and prosecute individuals alleged to have committed grave breaches under international law.

Dyab Abou Jahjah, general director of HRF, has called for India to immediately arrest Gilboa, stating that he is a “war criminal currently enjoying the hospitality of India while fleeing the consequences of his crimes.”

Source: Al Jazeera