Israeli media report legal move on crocodile moats around prisons holding Palestinians

JERUSALEM: Israeli media outlets have reported that Israel has taken a legal step that could allow a controversial proposal by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to move forward, involving crocodile-filled moats around prisons holding Palestinian detainees.

Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman signed an order changing the legal status of crocodiles to managed wild animals. The reclassification would permit state bodies, including the Israel Prison Service, to keep crocodiles at their facilities under specified conditions.

The change removes a major legal barrier to the idea, because crocodiles had previously been treated as protected wild animals and could only be kept in licensed zoos. The legal amendment came after objections from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to the project, which Hebrew media have referred to as the crocodile prison.

Proposal raised by Ben-Gvir

Ben-Gvir put forward the proposal about six months ago, calling for a high-security prison surrounded by waterways containing crocodiles as a deterrent against escape attempts by Palestinian detainees. The Israel Prison Service has already started reviewing whether the project is practical.

As part of that assessment, officials have reportedly visited zoos to examine how crocodiles are handled and what care they require. Officials believe such moats could both tighten prison security and lower guarding expenses.

The cost of a young crocodile is about $8,000, while an adult animal can cost as much as $20,000. There was no immediate comment from the Israel Prison Service on the reported project or on where it might be introduced.

Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons

Around 9,500 Palestinians, including women and children, are currently being held in Israeli prisons. Palestinian and Israeli rights groups say detainees are being held in conditions involving starvation, torture and medical neglect, and that dozens have died in custody.