17 First Section: Impact of Israeli violations on the Palestinian institutions’ ability to meet human rights obligations Overall, Israeli practices posed serious challenges to the State of Palestine’s ability to safeguard fundamental rights and freedoms of Palestinian citizens. These precluded the full functioning of Palestinian line ministries and government bodies, disrupting performance and powers approved by the Basic Law and relevant national regulations. Israel’s actions also impeded the State of Palestine’s capability of meeting its obligations towards and ensuring the rights and freedoms of Palestinians. Israeli arbitrary measures obstructed functions and capacity of the Ministry of National Economy (MoNE) to implement programmes and projects as well as provide services across Palestinian governorates, particularly in Area C. Compounded by military checkpoints, siege and raids on Palestinian cities hampered access for staff to the MoNE offices, crippling their ability to provide services to beneficiaries, including citizens and companies. Clearance revenue deductions by the Israeli occupying authorities posed a major challenge to the State of Palestine. In response to benefits paid to the Palestinian families of martyrs and political prisoners, Israel deducted a total of US$ 32 million a month, negatively impacting the Palestinian government’s ability to pay public servant salaries or its due liabilities, including private sector arrears. In addition to a portion of earlier due amounts, the Palestinian government continued to pay (80%) of public sector salaries throughout 2022. Impacting trade activity across markets, salaries are a key driver of Palestinian economy. The Israeli occupying authorities continued to obstruct Palestinians’ ability to use existing natural resources in Area C. The IOF closed entrances to villages and towns, denied access to agricultural land, closed roads with dirt barricades, obstructed road construction, prevented the implementation of agricultural projects, and contaminated arable land with waste and wastewater produced by settlements. Citing the lack of licences, the Israeli occupying authorities continued to prohibit construction, issued demolition notices, demolished homes and agricultural structures, and confiscated thousands of dunums of land. Restrictive planning policies maintained by the Israeli Civil Administration also disrupted infrastructure projects and obstructed development in Area C. Contrary to the principle of “Health for All”, Israeli policies have obstructed Palestinian government action on the right to health and Palestinian access to health services, particularly in Area C. The blockade resulted in the poor quality of health services at Gaza hospitals and decline in health services provided to the Gaza population. In addition to significant lack of health care professionals, medicines and medical supplies are severely lacking. Restrictions on medicines Executive Summary 2022