Ben‑Gvir’s “Crocodile Prison” plan for Palestinian detainees warned by rights group

The Palestinian prisoners’ rights organization Hanazila warned on 23 July 2026 that Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir is advancing a project dubbed “Crocodile Prison” at the desert prison near the Negev. According to the group, the scheme includes constructing water channels and installing crocodiles as an additional means of guard control.

Hanazila described the initiative as a new level of extremism and collective punishment of Palestinian prisoners, saying it breaches international humanitarian law and reflects a retaliatory policy. The organization urged the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations and other humanitarian bodies to intervene, investigate and pressure the Israeli authorities to halt the project, condemning the allocation of millions of shekels to what it calls a punitive measure.