Barbaric! Israel Moves to Realise 'Crocodile Prison' for Palestinian Detainees
Israeli occupation authorities have taken a significant legal step towards realising a controversial proposal by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. According to Hebrew-language media reports, the proposal plans to surround prisons holding Palestinian detainees with moats filled with crocodiles.
This move follows a decision by Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, who reclassified crocodiles as ‘managed wild animals’. This new status allows Israeli government institutions—including the Israel Prison Service—to keep the reptiles under certain conditions.
According to a report by Israel’s Channel 7 cited by the Palestine Chronicle, this legal reclassification removes one of the main obstacles that previously stalled the proposal. Before the rule was changed, crocodiles were categorised as protected wild animals and could only be kept in licensed breeding facilities or zoos.
Israeli media reported that the decision was taken after months of discussions regarding Ben-Gvir’s proposal. He first unveiled the plan around six months ago as part of a blueprint for a new high-security prison designed specifically to hold Palestinian detainees. Under the proposal, the prison complex would be surrounded by a water channel filled with crocodiles to prevent escape attempts.
Channel 13 reported that the project, dubbed the ‘crocodile prison’ by Israeli media, had previously stalled due to opposition from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. However, with the new legal classification, that barrier has now been removed, paving the way for state institutions to keep crocodiles under government supervision.
The Israel Prison Service has reportedly begun examining the operational aspects of such a facility. The broadcaster reported that prison officials have visited several zoos to study the handling, maintenance, and care requirements of crocodiles as part of an initial feasibility assessment. Officials cited in the report argued that a crocodile-filled moat would not only tighten prison security but could also cut operational costs by reducing the need for prison personnel guarding the outer perimeter. However, Israeli media also noted that the project requires a very large financial investment, with data from Channel 7 indicating a baby crocodile costs around 8,000 US dollars, while an adult can cost up to 20,000 dollars.