An Israeli court has temporarily halted an unusual project to use crocodiles to guard the Ktzi'ot prison in the Negev desert, where Palestinians accused or convicted of terrorism-related offenses are held, according to infohub.kz.
The initiative was proposed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Under his plan, deep moats would be dug around part of the prison and filled with crocodiles. The predators were expected to serve as an additional security measure and deter inmates from escaping.
The animal welfare organization Let The Animals Live opposed the project. Its representatives stated that using crocodiles for such purposes is illegal and could harm both the animals and the environment.
The Jerusalem District Court sided with the animal rights activists and temporarily banned the project's implementation. The court also prohibited authorities from taking any action until the government presents its position, which is expected by mid-August.
According to Israeli media, preparations for the project had already begun. Trenches had been started around the prison, and about 21 million shekels (approximately 3.25 billion tenge) were allocated for the pilot project.
Ben-Gvir harshly criticized the court's decision, saying the judicial system has "taken the side of terrorists" and is obstructing measures to ensure the country's security.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that a resident of Aktobe appealed to Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry to help her 24-year-old son, who has been in a Greek prison for nearly two years. According to the woman, Rashid Kadirov was sentenced to 125 years in prison for illegally transporting migrants.