The Jerusalem District Court issued a temporary injunction to halt plans by Israel’s ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to create crocodile moats around prisons housing Palestinian detainees, including those arrested during the war in Gaza, according to Israeli media reports.
These prisons hold Palestinian prisoners convicted of security-related offenses, as well as Palestinians detained during the Gaza war. The so-called “security prisoners” are individuals imprisoned for security-related offenses, many of whom are held under administrative detention, meaning they can be detained for security reasons for six months or longer without formal charges.
How the crocodile project became possible
Last month, Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman changed the legal status of Nile crocodiles from a protected species to a “managed wild animal.” This change aimed to facilitate the use of reptiles in moats and paved the way for Ben-Gvir’s plans. Following this, construction work began as part of a pilot project at Ktziot Prison in the Negev Desert.
Criticism from animal rights activists and environmentalists
The initiative faced criticism from an animal rights organization that demanded the restoration of the crocodiles’ protected status. The organization also accused Minister Silman of disregarding expert opinions during the reclassification of Nile crocodiles. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority also expressed concerns, warning of risks to the ecosystem from the introduction of non-native predators. In the past, crocodile breeding has led to numerous issues, including animals escaping into the wild and posing threats to human safety.
The judge found the organization’s concerns about potential harm to the animals serious enough to warrant a substantive review of the case. According to the newspaper “Haaretz,” Ben-Gvir accused the court of “siding with terrorists” and obstructing necessary containment measures.
Source: Der Spiegel
