Israeli court freezes Ben-Gvir's plan to surround Palestinian prisoners with crocodiles

An Israeli court issued a temporary order freezing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's plan to transfer Nile crocodiles to the Ketziot detention facility in the Negev to surround Palestinian prisoners with them. The decision came following a rights petition against the National Security Ministry and the Environmental Protection Ministry, and the court barred implementation of the decision until the government's response, expected in mid-August.

An Israeli court issued a temporary order freezing the plan to transfer Nile crocodiles to the Ketziot detention facility in the Negev, a plan proposed by extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir with the aim of using them around detention facilities holding Palestinian prisoners. The judicial decision came following a rights petition filed against the National Security Ministry and the Environmental Protection Ministry, where the court barred any executive measures based on the decision of Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, which classified crocodiles under the category of 'managed wild animals'. The court decided to keep the temporary order in effect until the Israeli government submits its official response to the petition, expected by mid-August. The plan had drawn widespread criticism, as it was seen as an unprecedented measure aimed at tightening measures against Palestinian prisoners inside detention facilities.