Israeli Court Freezes Plan to Use Crocodiles at Prison Holding Palestinian Detainees

An Israeli court has frozen plans to move Nile crocodiles to Ketziot Prison in the Negev desert, which holds Palestinian detainees, after animal rights groups petitioned against the move. Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir had proposed using the reptiles to guard the prison's perimeter, arguing it would ease staff burden, but critics called the idea "cruel" and "vicious. Judge Avraham Rubin of the Jerusalem District Court issued a temporary injunction on Sunday, citing concerns about harm to the animals, and gave the state until 16 August to respond.

Ben Gvir accused the legal system of siding with "the terrorists, while Human Rights Watch researcher Sarah Sanbar said the proposal showed "how normalised cruelty has become" in the prison system. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority had previously opposed the plan, noting wild animals should only be held for educational or research purposes. Ketziot holds Palestinian prisoners accused of involvement in the October 7, 2023 Nova Festival massacre.