Earlier this month, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir reportedly announced a new security initiative for the Ketziot Prison, located in the Naqab (Negev) desert. The proposal involves the introduction of Nile crocodiles to serve as guards for Palestinian political prisoners held at the facility.

Ketziot Prison is the largest detention center in Israel and has a long history of use during periods of civil unrest, including the First Intifada between 1988 and 1995. While the announcement has been framed by some as a strategic security upgrade, it has simultaneously been characterized by critics as a form of 'animal warfare' intended to intimidate or dehumanize detainees.

There is currently a lack of corroborating reports from other major international news agencies regarding the official implementation status of this program. The Middle East Eye report presents the development as a confirmed policy shift, though the logistics of using live animals as prison guards remain unclear. The proposal has sparked debate over the ethical implications of using wildlife in carceral settings, particularly given the facility's historical significance and the ongoing tensions surrounding the treatment of Palestinian prisoners within the Israeli justice system.