28 The purpose of the declaration and extension of the state of emergency is to “counter the threat and prevent the outbreak of COVID-19.” Nonetheless, ICHR monitoring demonstrates that the measures and actions prescribed by ministerial decisions in relation to the state of emergency placed restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly. In particular, the Council of Ministers’ Decision No. 1 of 2020 “Emergency” constituted a violation of this right.11 Government bodies addressed by the law governing this right were already committed to the relevant health protocols of the Ministry of Health (MoH). Based on ICHR monitoring, relevant government bodies did not make any policies or take any new measures or actions to protect the right to peaceful assembly during the declared state of emergency. In the Gaza Strip, relevant authorities continue to place restrictions on indoor public meetings, stipulating that organisers obtain a prior permission. Verbal orders are issued to owners of halls not to reserve any rooms unless organisers receive a prior permission. The Law on Public Meetings does not require that any permissions or authorisations be obtained when an indoor meeting is held. The ICHR reiterates recurrent recommendations submitted in its annual reports on the human rights situation. The ICHR further submits a set of specific recommendations to protect, promote and provide accountability for violations of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. Legislative bodies need to align national regulations and bylaws governing the right to peaceful assembly, with the international instruments, particularly the ICCPR, which the State of Palestine signed and expressed commitment to. All provisions under the penal laws in force in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which contravene the right to peaceful assembly, must be either amended or repealed. Security agencies and the MoI need to comply with the provisions of the Law No. 12 of 1998 on Public Meetings, which exclusively authorises the Police agency to deal with public meetings. It should be emphasised that security personnel in plain clothes will be prohibited from carry out operational missions in the context of dispersing peaceful assemblies. In the Gaza Strip, security agencies should abide by the provisions of the Law No. 12 of 1998 on Public Meetings. 2.1.6 Right to freedom of association Multiple violations affected the right to freedom of association. These involved refusal to register and approve boards of CSOs based on the security clearance condition and constraints on freedom to form and establish associations and intensive security monitoring of CSO activities. Based on the Decision of the Minister of Interior in Gaza No. 48 of 2010 on Civil Servants Failing to be on Duty, all civil servants, who failed to report to work, continued to be prevented from 11 Article 6 of the Council of Ministers’ Decision of 2020 “Emergency” forbade “[a]ny manifestations of crowding, gathering, celebrations, demonstrations and strikes shall be banned throughout the territory of the State of Palestine.” The Status of Human Rights in Palestine