Israeli far-right officials plan to introduce crocodiles into prisons holding Palestinians, but were recently blocked by an Israeli court on the grounds of crocodile welfare, rather than considerations of human rights. Human rights groups have accused this cruel measure as an example of "unprecedented racist paranoia and pathological abuse" against Palestinians.
According to a report by "The New Arab" on the 3rd, Israeli far-right National Security Minister Ben-Gvir recently drew up a plan, intending to introduce crocodiles into the security zones of prisons in order to further tighten the treatment of Palestinian inmates. However, the Jerusalem District Court has since issued a provisional injunction prohibiting the transfer of crocodiles into the prisons, citing possible harm to the crocodiles.
The report noted that work on Ben-Gvir's plan has already begun, with workers building a moat to house the crocodiles at Israel's southern Ketziot Prison. This prison, located in Israel's Negev Desert, has long been primarily used to detain and hold Palestinians, and is a focal point for Ben-Gvir's prison policies.
● Reclassifying Crocodiles to Facilitate Implementation
Regarding Ben-Gvir’s plan, Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister Silman said she would first need to sign a ministerial order to reclassify crocodiles as "wild animals in captivity,” in order to facilitate their subsequent transfer to the moat facility.
The Israeli environmental protection agencies immediately objected to the plan. The Israeli animal rights organization "Let the Animals Live" submitted a petition calling for attention to the crocodiles’ welfare. Legal advisors from the Environmental Protection Ministry as well as officials from the Nature and Parks Authority also believe that reclassifying crocodiles lacks scientific basis, and warned that moving crocodiles into the prison would pose risks to both animals and prison staff.
Since Ben-Gvir took office as minister, a series of tougher deterrent measures toward Palestinian prison inmates has been introduced, including restricting family visits, reducing inmate amenities, and tightening prison management. The proposal to introduce crocodiles into the prison is aimed at further worsening the situation of Palestinian inmates.
The report noted that human rights organizations have described this "crocodile proposal" as a dangerous escalation in the way Israel treats Palestinian prisoners.
Human Rights Watch acting researcher Sambar told "The New Arab" that for a long time, Israeli torture and abuse of detained Palestinians has gone unpunished. Cruelty in Israel's system of detaining Palestinians has become normalized.
According to figures cited in the report from "Human Rights Watch," since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military has arrested over 24,600 Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with thousands more detained in Gaza. Nearly 100 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons. (News source: United Daily News)