Hotel in Japan asks Israeli tourist to sign war crimes declaration

A hotel in Kyoto, Japan, asked an Israeli tourist who had served in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to sign a declaration affirming that he had not committed war crimes during his military service, before allowing him to check in. The incident occurred amid Israel’s ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip.

The tourist was given the declaration form upon



showing his Israeli passport to staff at the Guesthouse Wind Villa in the Higashiyama district, under threat of being refused service if he declined to sign.

The form included references to acts such as rape, the killing of civilians—including those surrendering or waving white flags—and other war crimes, which are documented as part of Israel’s military history.