Crocodiles as prison guards: Israeli moat plan dehumanizes Palestinian prisoners

A court injunction has slowed plans to build a crocodile moat at a facility holding Palestinian prisoners. But Israeli government hard-liners are pushing ahead.

By: Irus Braverman, University at Buffalo, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 26, 2026

Words: 1,372

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Body Text Preview

By Irus Braverman, University at Buffalo

When Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir proposed surrounding a prison holding Palestinian security detainees with Nile crocodiles, many people dismissed the idea as political theater.

After all, the image of crocodiles patrolling a prison moat seemed so outlandish that it was easy to treat as a publicity stunt. Similar claims were also directed at Donald Trump’s now-shuttered Alligator Alcatraz in Florida, which appeared to serve …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us