Israel's Minister of Public Security Itamar Ben-Gvir has received approval to use Nile crocodiles to guard prison perimeters, reports infohub.kz citing the Jerusalem Post.
In 2025, the far-right minister, known for his radical and anti-Palestinian views, announced plans to surround the Ketziot high-security prison in the Negev desert with Nile crocodiles. The facility holds mostly Palestinian prisoners and civilians arrested during the Gaza war.
The main obstacle was the protected status of the Nile crocodile. However, this week Israel's Environmental Protection Minister reclassified the reptile as a "farm-raised wild animal," allowing security authorities to use crocodiles for external perimeter security.
Specific timelines for the project have not yet been announced.
Meanwhile, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority opposed the initiative, stating that dangerous predators can only be kept for educational and scientific purposes. Officials also warned of risks from breeding crocodiles near a prison, noting that escaped reptiles have previously caused dangerous incidents, including fatalities.