The Israeli occupation has reportedly begun excavating a 170-meter trench around a section of Ketziot Prison in the southern Negev (Al-Naqab), where Palestinian detainees are held, with plans to fill the moat with Nile crocodiles, according to Israeli outlet Ynet on 22 July.
The reported construction is intended to create an additional physical barrier around the prison facility, adding to the security measures already surrounding the detention complex. Ketziot Prison has become one of the main detention sites for Palestinians held by the Israeli occupation.
The plan has sparked outrage due to the prison’s record of alleged mistreatment and harsh detention conditions faced by Palestinian prisoners. Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns over conditions in Israeli detention facilities and allegations of abuse against Palestinian detainees.
The reported crocodile moat would add an extraordinary new layer to the prison’s already heavily fortified perimeter. The development comes amid growing international scrutiny of Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees and the conditions inside its prison system.
The construction also highlights the increasingly extreme security measures being adopted around detention facilities holding Palestinians. Critics argue that such measures reflect a broader system of repression and intimidation directed at Palestinian detainees.
The reported excavation at Ketziot Prison comes as concerns over the treatment of Palestinian prisoners continue to intensify, with rights groups and international observers calling for greater transparency and accountability regarding detention conditions.
