Ben-Gvir defies Israeli court over crocodile moat plan around prison holding Palestinian detainees

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, accompanied by Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, toured crocodile trenches surrounding a wing of Ketziot Prison housing Palestinian

The visit came despite a temporary order issued by the Jerusalem District Court on 2 August suspending the plan to place crocodiles around the prison pending a ruling on a petition filed by the animal rights group Let the Animals Live.

Ben-Gvir said: “There are supposed to be crocodiles here, but the court has issued an order and continues to put obstacles in the way of what we are doing.”

Defying the court’s decision, he added: “There will be crocodiles, and we will fight the battle in court.”

Silman said she had visited the site with Ben-Gvir following meetings and discussions about bringing crocodiles to the perimeter of prisons holding Palestinians whom Israel claims are members of Hamas’ Nukhba (Elite) unit.

Addressing the Palestinian detainees, she said: “Anyone who attacks our people should know that they will end up spending the night in a place surrounded by crocodiles.”