Key Takeaways
- Israeli soldiers involved in Gaza demolitions reportedly travel to India’s ‘Hummus Trail’ for rest and relaxation.
- The Hind Rajab Foundation alleges these soldiers are war criminals and has filed complaints against them.
- India’s ties with Israel are deepening, raising questions about accountability for war crimes.
Israeli soldiers accused of war crimes in Gaza have been found traveling through India’s ‘Hummus Trail’, a backpacking route popular among Israeli soldiers. The trail stretches through destinations like Kasol and the Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh, and places like Pushkar in Rajasthan, and Goa.
The Hind Rajab Foundation, which analyzes publicly available data to identify Israeli soldiers it alleges are implicated in war crimes, has documented the actions of soldiers like Eitan Gilboa, who was seen demolishing Palestinian homes in Gaza. The foundation argues that these actions violate the Fourth Geneva Convention.
In India, these soldiers find a sanctuary where they can ‘heal’ from the trauma of war without taking accountability for their actions. Attractions on the Hummus Trail include raves where visitors can lose themselves in trance music and drugs, and cafes that serve Israeli food. One writer even called towns on the trail ‘ashrams for war criminals’.
The Hind Rajab Foundation has analyzed photographs and other material from Gilboa’s Indian journey and filed complaints with the Himachal police, the home ministry, and the Bureau of Immigration seeking his arrest. However, no arrest followed, and Gilboa eventually left India.
India’s ties with Israel are deepening, with increasing ideological, economic, and military alignment. This includes India’s Citizenship Amendment Act, which created an expedited route to citizenship for specified non-Muslim migrants from neighboring countries while excluding Muslims from its provisions. Israel’s 2018 nation-state law similarly privileges Jewish national identity.
The foundation’s actions highlight the complex relationship between India and Israel, where soldiers accused of war crimes find a place of refuge. The question remains: can India balance its ties with Israel with its commitment to justice and accountability?
The Hummus Trail, with its mix of commercialized ‘healing’ and tourist-friendly amenities, provides a stark contrast to the condemnation these soldiers face in other parts of the world. Here, they can enjoy a peace and ‘healing’ from the trauma of war without having to take responsibility for their actions.
The Indian government has not commented on the complaints filed by the Hind Rajab Foundation. However, the issue has sparked debates about the country’s stance on war crimes and its relationship with Israel.
