Israel moves closer to using crocodiles as prison guards for Palestinian inmates

Israel's Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman has approved a decision that reclassifies crocodiles, potentially paving the way for their use in security operations. The new legal category designates crocodiles as "farmed wild animals," moving them away from their previous classification solely as wild animals.

This regulatory shift opens the door for security services to utilize crocodiles under state approval and specific environmental protection guidelines. The move is strongly supported by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician who has long advocated for using crocodiles to guard prisons, specifically Ketziot prison in southern Israel, which houses Palestinian inmates.

Ben-Gvir previously suggested deploying crocodiles around the prison to deter escape attempts, drawing a parallel to Florida's notorious "Alligator Alcatraz" migrant detention center. Following the decision, he posted on social media, "Thinking of escaping? Think again."

However, the proposal has met with significant criticism. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority previously stated that wild animals should only be used for scientific and educational purposes, not security. Concerns have also been raised about the potential danger posed by escaped farmed crocodiles. Furthermore, some officials within the Israel Prison Service reportedly met the idea with ridicule, deeming it unrealistic, according to Channel 13 news.

The ultimate deployment of crocodiles as prison guards hinges on further government decisions and the issuance of necessary permits, with experts warning of the inherent risks involved.

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Thinking of escaping? Think again.