50 The Independent Commission for Human Rights - ICHR − Deaths resulting from the abuse of arms: Reflecting the same number of incidents in 2020, the ICHR documented the death of two citizens as a result of the abuse of arms in 2021. Both cases were reported to have taken place in the Gaza Strip. while no incidents were reported in 2020, the number of fatalities owing to the abuse of armed by law enforcement personnel increased. Against this background, the ICHR documented the death of three adult males, including two in the Gaza Strip and one in the West Bank. − Deaths in mysterious circumstances: Of all unnatural deaths, the number and proportion of deaths in mysterious circumstances dropped for the second year running. This is a positive indicator of higher completion of investigation cases. a total of 23 citizens died in mysterious circumstances in 2021, including five in the West Bank and 18 in the Gaza Strip. In 2020, 36 citizens were reported to have died in similar circumstances: 20 in the West Bank and 16 in the Gaza Strip. Broken down by gender, these deaths included eight females and 15 males in 2021. By contrast, 12 females and 24 males died in mysterious circumstances in 2020. In terms of age, child mortality registered eight compared to four in 2020. The ICHR requested that the Public Prosecution in the West Bank and Gaza Strip provide information about circumstances associated with the deaths documented by the ICHR in 2021. However, the Public Prosecution stated that it did not document some of these cases in the West Bank.62 Therefore, these death cases were not under investigation. In addition, the ICHR did not received any replies from the Gaza-based Public Prosecution office to this effect. − Deaths resulting from failure to implement public safety measures: In comparison to 2020, the number and proportion of deaths resulting from failure to comply with public safety measures declined substantially from 92 in 2020 to 42 in 2021, accounting for 28 percent and over 40 percent of total unnatural deaths documented by the ICHR in both years respectively. Geographical distribution shows that 32 deaths occurred in the West Bank and only 10 in the Gaza Strip in 2021, compared to 42 in the West Bank and 50 in Gaza in 2020. Distributed by gender, while deaths comprised 18 females and 74 males in 2020, seven females and 35 males died as a result of failing to implement public safety measures in 2021. By age, 25 adults and 17 children died in 2021 compared to 57 adults and 35 children in 2020. The categories of 2021 deaths resulting from failure to implement public safety measures broke down as follows: 16 in workplaces (four in 2017); seven of electric shocks (eight in 2017); four of drowning in swimming pools and cesspits (20 in 2017); four after falling from high altitude (22 in 2020); three killed in fire (37 in 2020); and eight of other miscellaneous causes. As in 2020, deaths resulting from failure to implement public safety measures accounted for the majority of deaths documented by the ICHR to have occurred in unnatural circumstances in 2021. Within this category, children comprised 40 percent in contrast with 38 percent reported to have died for similar causes in 2020. Death incidence indicates that public safety procedures implemented by government bodies, such as the MoL, LGUs, Civil Defence, and PEA, charged with the oversight of the places where these deaths occurred, are still substandard. These measures do not ensure an adequate reduction of deaths within this category. This situation requires that all government bodies provide an effective and efficient control over sites where such incidents of death take place, particularly in workplaces, swimming pools or cesspits, as well as deaths resulting from electric shocks or fires. − Deaths resulting from medical malpractice: Compared to 16 in 2020, the ICHR monitored the death of 11 citizens as a result of medical malpractice in 2021. Distributed by gender, deaths 62 According to a statement by the Public Prosecution, “some of these cases were not documented for the following reasons: deaths of persons holding Jerusalemite ID cards or deaths inside the 1948 Palestinian territory. Also, some deaths occurred at the end of 2021, but had no investigation files on their cases in 2021.” The Situation of Human Rights in Palestine