In Israel, ditches have begun to be dug around the Ketsiot prison, where authorities plan to house crocodiles. The unusual initiative of the government has already caused a loud public and political outcry, and the court has temporarily suspended the implementation of the project.
Videos have surfaced on social media showing Israel's Minister of Environmental Protection Idit Silman and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir inspecting the area around the Ketsiot prison in the south of the country. The footage shows that ditches have already been dug around the correctional facility, intended for housing crocodiles.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the Jerusalem District Court has ordered the suspension of the project until an additional legal review is completed. The basis for this was a petition from the animal protection organization Let the Animals Live, which questioned compliance with animal welfare standards.
During her visit to the site, Minister Idit Silman stated that the authorities intend to provide proper living conditions for the crocodiles.
"I must say that the conditions for the crocodiles outside this prison will be much better than for the terrorists inside," she stated.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the court's decision, stating that the crocodiles "should be right here."
"The court is once again interfering in our work. It’s astonishing how much we have scared them," the minister said, adding that he intends to pursue the implementation of the project through legal means.
The idea of surrounding prisons housing Palestinian inmates with ditches for crocodiles was first proposed by Ben-Gvir back in December 2025. However, on August 3, 2026, the Jerusalem District Court ruled to temporarily halt the initiative until its legal assessment is completed.
According to Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations, there are over 9,600 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, including women and children. Human rights advocates claim that many of them are subjected to abuse, torture, and deprived of adequate medical care.
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