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Israeli Court Freezes Ben-Gvir's Plan to Place Crocodiles Around Prison Holding Palestinians

The injunction follows an animal-rights petition that said the project lacked legal authority and could cause severe suffering to the crocodiles.

  • On Sunday, the Jerusalem District Court issued a temporary injunction blocking the transfer or preparation of Nile crocodiles for Ketziot Prison, with Judge Avraham Rubin finding that claims of expected harm to the animals merit investigation.
  • Last month, Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman reclassified Nile crocodiles as a 'cultivated wild animal' to enable the security project; officials allocated 21 million shekels and dug a 560-foot channel.
  • The Israel Nature and Parks Authority found no scientific precedent for using crocodiles to secure a detention facility, while animal nonprofit Let the Animals Live challenged Silman's decision and sought to restore the reptiles' protected status.
  • Responding to the ruling, Ben Gvir claimed the legal system sides with terrorists, thwarting important steps for Israeli deterrence, and pledged to fight for the plan; Human Rights Watch researcher Sarah Sanbar said the proposal shows how "normalised cruelty has become."
  • The state must submit a response by August 16, and although the 560-foot channel remains under construction, the court injunction prevents any crocodile transfer or preparation until a final ruling is made.
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To the crocodile of the Nile began to be removed the category of protected species. A ditch was then dug around a high security prison in southern Israel, destined to receive the animals of this species, in order to prevent the escape of prisoners. Final decision will be taken after the State responds to the precautionary measure issued.

·Paço de Arcos, Portugal
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mako broke the news on Sunday, August 2, 2026.
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