three allegations of children held in the custody of the governor, in connection with their exercise
of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
The Commission documented (16) cases of house searches without any legal warrant, (7) in the
West Bank and (9) in the Gaza Strip. It also documented (5) cases of non-implementation of court
decisions to release detainees, all of which in the West Bank and all of the victims were detained
on grounds of freedom of opinion and expression.
The Preventive Security apparatus stated that it had investigated (98) complaints;26 without
clarifying the nature of these complaints, adding that they are allegations and complaints related
to criminal cases of people accused of joining illegal armed militias, possession of illegal weapons,
providing financial aid and smuggling it to these militias through different means. The Preventive
Security apparatus further explained that these complaints typically aim to insult the Palestinian
Authority and distort its image, with such allegations before the local and international community.
The General Intelligence Service stated that it had received (11) complaints27 regarding violations
of a number of human rights, including the right to personal freedom, without clarifying the
outcome of this complaint, whether they were investigated or not. However, the General
Intelligence made it clear that it took no action against any of its members regarding complaints
of human rights violations.
The commission did not receive any responses to its correspondence in this regard from the police
forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, nor from the Internal Security Agency in the Gaza Strip.
To ensure the right to freedom and personal security, the Commission recommends that security
services stop carrying out arrests of citizens on grounds of exercising their legitimate rights,
especially their right to express their views freely and in peaceful assembly and that the security
services must adhere to legal procedures in cases of detention, when enforcing criminal laws. The
ICHR further recommends that judges and members of the Public Prosecution Office be very
cautious with requests to extend the detention, including examining the investigation cases of the
detainees. In all cases, the ICHR further emphases the need for examining the elements of necessity
and proportionality in the case of pretrial detention. The ICHR further recommends the civil public
prosecution and the regular judiciary to prosecute the security personnel involved in arbitrary
arrests and illegal detention.
The fourth subject: The Right to Freedom of Movement
The Commission received (47) complaints containing (49) allegations of violation in relation to
citizens’ right to freedom of movement, 16 in the West Bank and 31 in the Gaza Strip, compared
to (30) complaints received in 2018, (10) complaints were received in the West Bank and (20)
others in the Gaza Strip, where the increase in the complaints was by (17) complaints. The number
of complaints was (6) in the West Bank and (11) in the Gaza Strip.
26
The Preventive Security Service letter to the Independent Commission for Human Rights, dated 1/1/2020,
Letter of the General Intelligence Service to the Independent Commission for Human Rights, No. (D.Q / 89), 27
dated 01/14/2020