Israeli authorities plan to use moats filled with crocodiles to guard imprisoned Hamas militants, claiming it will save money and provide the punishment they deserve. Critics have labeled this initiative a cruel spectacle.
According to the plan, moats will be constructed around a wing of a prison in southern Israel where suspected members of the Nukhba, an elite Hamas unit accused of participating in the October 7, 2023 attacks, are held. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated: “Anyone who carried out massacres, raped, killed, and behaved like an animal deserves to be guarded by the same kind of animal.” The Hamas attack, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and kidnappings, marked the beginning of Israel’s war in Gaza, where tens of thousands have since died.
A spokesperson for Minister Ben-Gvir said that the crocodile moat project “is being implemented. The necessary permits have been obtained. The budget has been allocated. Implementation is ongoing.”
Origins and Legal Obstacles
Itamar Ben-Gvir proposed this idea about six months ago, inspired by the American penitentiary center “Alligator Alcatraz” in South Florida, which was visited by U.S. President Donald Trump during its opening last year. Despite the name of the facility, the Israeli project involves the use of crocodiles. The American center has since been closed.
The implementation of the Israeli project was delayed by a law that classified crocodiles as protected wild animals that cannot be kept outside zoos. Later, the status of these animals was changed, allowing them to be used for security purposes. Only law enforcement agencies will be permitted to keep crocodiles.
Criticism and Concerns
The plan has already sparked significant criticism. Some view it as cruel treatment of animals, while others consider it an impractical solution or a political stunt. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel stated that the initiative should be viewed in the context of “the rapid process of politicization in the Israeli Prison Service under the leadership of Minister Ben-Gvir and the deterioration of detention conditions, especially for Palestinian prisoners convicted of security-related crimes.”
Eran Doron, head of the Ramat Negev Regional Council, where the prison is located, noted that the complex has already been surrounded by an additional wall for two years. He urged Ben-Gvir to focus on combating crime by seizing illegal weapons and expanding the municipal police. “Minister ‘Crocodile Dundee’ is investing in strange antics that will cost Israeli taxpayers millions,” said Doron. “Residents of the Negev demand personal security and practical solutions. It is time to stop the political shows and start really improving security.”
Source: Bloomberg
