Israeli Ministers Approve Law to Use Crocodiles for Prison Security at Ketziot Facility

Israeli Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Idit Silman have advanced a legal amendment permitting the use of predatory animals, specifically crocodiles, to secure the Ketziot prison, which holds security detainees including Hamas militants involved in the October 7 attacks. The amendment reclassifies crocodiles from protected wild animals to "domesticated" animals, allowing the Israel Prison Service to relocate crocodiles from the Nature and Parks Authority to surround the prison.

Ben-Gvir explained that the concept is inspired by a U.S. prison model established by former President Donald Trump in Florida, where a prison is surrounded by crocodile habitats. However, investigations revealed that the American facility was built adjacent to an existing crocodile reserve, whereas the Israeli plan involves creating a new crocodile reserve from scratch and transferring crocodiles from other locations in Israel.

The Nature and Parks Authority opposes the initiative, citing a lack of professional and scientific basis for holding predatory animals in security facilities. They stated, "There is no sufficient professional basis to approve the holding of crocodiles in security facilities in Israel." Despite ministerial support, experts remain skeptical about the feasibility and safety of establishing a crocodile reserve around a prison.

The amendment was passed without comprehensive professional assessments, raising concerns about the practicality and ecological impact of the plan. The next steps involve the Israel Prison Service implementing the new security measures, pending further evaluations and possible opposition from environmental authorities.