According to a report by AFP News Agency on Saturday, July 18, 2026, the Israeli government has approved a regulatory change that could allow crocodiles to be used as part of prison security measures, following a decision by Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman to reclassify the reptiles from wild animals to “captive-bred wildlife.”
The move paves the way for crocodiles to be kept by authorised security agencies for what the government describes as security purposes, including helping to prevent prison escapes.
The decision has been welcomed by Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, who has long advocated for the unconventional security measure. In a social media post on Thursday, Ben Gvir celebrated the regulatory change with an AI-generated image showing himself holding a crocodile on a leash.
“Are you thinking of attempting to escape? Think again,” the minister wrote, while the accompanying caption stated that he and Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman were working together to surround prisons with crocodiles.
Ben Gvir first proposed the idea in December 2025, reportedly suggesting that crocodiles be stationed around prisons housing Palestinian detainees. The proposal drew comparisons to Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention facility in the United States, where natural wildlife has been highlighted as part of the surrounding environment.
According to Israeli media reports, the proposal initially faced scepticism from senior officials within the Israel Prison Service, while the Israel Nature and Parks Authority was said to have opposed the idea when it was first introduced.
Under the new regulation, which was signed into law on Wednesday, Nile crocodiles can now be bred and kept by recognised security bodies under strict conditions. The law specifies that the reptiles must remain under secure supervision to prevent their release into the wild and that their possession must be deemed necessary for security purposes by the Environmental Protection Minister.
The regulatory amendment also transfers responsibility for overseeing the animals from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to designated security agencies. One of the bodies eligible to keep the reptiles is the Israel Prison Service, which falls under the authority of the National Security Ministry.
Israeli broadcaster Channel 13 reported that Ben Gvir intends to deploy crocodiles around Ketziot Prison in southern Israel. The facility houses a significant number of Palestinian detainees, including many arrested following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023.
Supporters of the measure argue that the presence of crocodiles could serve as an additional deterrent against escape attempts, particularly at large prison complexes located in remote areas. They maintain that the reptiles would complement existing security infrastructure rather than replace conventional surveillance and perimeter protection.
However, the proposal has also attracted criticism from environmental experts, legal analysts and human rights advocates. Critics have questioned the practicality of using dangerous animals for prison security, while others have raised concerns about animal welfare, public safety and the ethical implications of the policy.
Ben Gvir, a leading figure in Israel’s far-right coalition government, has consistently supported stricter prison policies and tougher security measures. Throughout his political career, he has advocated for harsher conditions for Palestinian prisoners and stronger enforcement measures, positions that have generated both domestic and international debate.
Israel Gives Approval for Crocodiles to Guard Prisons Where Palestinian Detainees are Held
According to a report by AFP News Agency on Saturday, July 18, 2026, the Israeli government has approved a regulatory change that could allow crocodiles to be used as part of prison security measures, following a decision by Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman to reclassify the reptiles from wild animals to “captive-bred wildlife.”
The move paves the way for crocodiles to be kept by authorised security agencies for what the government describes as security purposes, including helping to prevent prison escapes.
The decision has been welcomed by Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, who has long advocated for the unconventional security measure. In a social media post on Thursday, Ben Gvir celebrated the regulatory change with an AI-generated image showing himself holding a crocodile on a leash.
“Are you thinking of attempting to escape? Think again,” the minister wrote, while the accompanying caption stated that he and Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman were working together to surround prisons with crocodiles.
Ben Gvir first proposed the idea in December 2025, reportedly suggesting that crocodiles be stationed around prisons housing Palestinian detainees. The proposal drew comparisons to Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention facility in the United States, where natural wildlife has been highlighted as part of the surrounding environment.
According to Israeli media reports, the proposal initially faced scepticism from senior officials within the Israel Prison Service, while the Israel Nature and Parks Authority was said to have opposed the idea when it was first introduced.
Under the new regulation, which was signed into law on Wednesday, Nile crocodiles can now be bred and kept by recognised security bodies under strict conditions. The law specifies that the reptiles must remain under secure supervision to prevent their release into the wild and that their possession must be deemed necessary for security purposes by the Environmental Protection Minister.
The regulatory amendment also transfers responsibility for overseeing the animals from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to designated security agencies. One of the bodies eligible to keep the reptiles is the Israel Prison Service, which falls under the authority of the National Security Ministry.
Israeli broadcaster Channel 13 reported that Ben Gvir intends to deploy crocodiles around Ketziot Prison in southern Israel. The facility houses a significant number of Palestinian detainees, including many arrested following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023.
Supporters of the measure argue that the presence of crocodiles could serve as an additional deterrent against escape attempts, particularly at large prison complexes located in remote areas. They maintain that the reptiles would complement existing security infrastructure rather than replace conventional surveillance and perimeter protection.
However, the proposal has also attracted criticism from environmental experts, legal analysts and human rights advocates. Critics have questioned the practicality of using dangerous animals for prison security, while others have raised concerns about animal welfare, public safety and the ethical implications of the policy.
Ben Gvir, a leading figure in Israel’s far-right coalition government, has consistently supported stricter prison policies and tougher security measures. Throughout his political career, he has advocated for harsher conditions for Palestinian prisoners and stronger enforcement measures, positions that have generated both domestic and international debate.
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