6 ued to be held in prisons in unacceptable inhumane conditions inside the Israeli territory. Israeli further continued to withhold and refuse to hand over the bodies of Palestinians to their families to bid farewell and honourably bury them according to religious rites and social traditions. These and other grave breaches amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. On the other hand, the internal Palestinian political divide is still in place, reproducing itself so dramatically that it puts at risk the territorial integrity of Palestine. Should this situation persist, the divide will create irreversible facts on the ground. Most often, basic services and citizens’ rights, especially public servants’, were thrust into the midst of political conflict. This came at the considerable cost of citizens. 2020 witnessed a significant deterioration in respect for fundamental freedoms, particularly freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression – the backbone of democracy and other human rights. This should be a matter of grave concern for society as it would probably narrow the space for individuals’ right to freedom of expression and opinion, right of access to information, right to freedom of peaceful assembly, and right to protest. Except as prohibited by law in a democratic system, no restrictions may be imposed on individuals’ right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Following a presidential decree, the call for elections furnished another opportunity and offered hope to overcome the serious crisis of the Palestinian political system and enable citizens to choose their representatives. However, this opportunity was squandered by another decree, which provided for postponing the elections in view of the obstacles created by the occupying Power, particularly in the city of Jerusalem. Israeli actions would have necessarily been a reason for proceeding with the elections. Given the fact that elections would be held under occupation in Jerusalem as well as in other parts of the Palestinian territory, it would have been a chance to challenge and expose Israel to the world. In the Palestinian context, elections are of paramount importance because they provide a starting point for putting an end to the internal Palestinian political divide and promoting citizens’ trust and confidence in political participation and political system at large. Elections are also an inherent rights enshrined in the Palestinian Basic Law. Not only do citizens have the right to vote and to stand for election, they are also entitled to exercise this right periodically every four years. As a constitutional right, elections are a necessary prerequisite to renew legitimacy of the political system and institutions. Although it had been inactive for years, the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) was dissolved by a ruling from the Supreme Constitutional Court. PLC dysfunction and weak formal oversight have seriously undermined control and accountability. In addition to the ordinary law making process, oversight and accountability are key tasks entrusted to the PLC. Honoured to present this Annual Report, I would like to extend my thanks and The Status of Human Rights in Palestine