JERUSALEM: Israel has taken a regulatory step that could allow the use of crocodiles for security purposes, including at prisons holding Palestinian detainees.
According to reports, Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman approved a change in the legal classification of crocodiles, moving them from the category of wild animals to “cultivated wild animals.” The change could enable approved security agencies to keep crocodiles under government authorization and subject to environmental regulations.
The move follows a proposal made in December by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who suggested digging moats around prisons housing Palestinian prisoners and placing crocodiles in them to deter escape attempts.
Under the revised classification, security institutions—including, according to reports, the Israel Prison Service, which falls under Ben-Gvir’s authority—may be permitted to use crocodiles for security-related purposes if they obtain the necessary approvals.
Israeli media reported that Ben-Gvir has expressed interest in using crocodiles to enhance security at Ketziot Prison in southern Israel, where many Palestinian prisoners are held.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Ben-Gvir wrote, “Thinking of escaping? Think again,” alongside an AI-generated image depicting himself holding a crocodile on a leash.
The reports describe the regulatory change and the minister’s proposal. However, there has been no official announcement that crocodiles have been deployed at any prison, and any such use would remain subject to government authorization and regulatory conditions.
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