Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has sparked international controversy with an extraordinary proposal to construct a detention facility surrounded by crocodiles for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli media outlet Channel 13 reported the unusual concept, which is currently under review by the Israel Prison Service as a potential deterrent against jailbreak attempts.
The proposed facility would reportedly be situated near Hamat Gader, a hot springs resort in northern Israel’s occupied Syrian Golan Heights. The location already maintains a controlled alligator habitat, with plans to introduce additional crocodiles within a securely fenced enclosure to prevent escapes.
Human rights advocates have condemned the proposal as extreme and dehumanizing. Orly Noy, chair of Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, described the plan as “another grotesque example of the cannibal stage in which Israel is at right now.” Noy expressed concern about escalating security measures, noting that despite decades of physical barriers, public sense of security continues to deteriorate.
The controversial proposal emerges alongside legislative efforts by Ben Gvir to implement capital punishment for Palestinian prisoners. The death penalty bill, currently advancing through the Knesset, would mandate execution for Palestinians convicted of planning or carrying out attacks, particularly those involved in the October 7, 2023 incidents. Notably, the legislation contains provisions that would exempt Israelis who kill Palestinians under similar circumstances.
The bill requires two additional parliamentary readings before becoming law, with one scheduled for the coming week. These developments reflect increasingly hardline approaches to security and detention within Israel’s current political landscape, drawing criticism from human rights organizations and raising concerns about the treatment of Palestinian detainees.