27 representatives, and infringement on freedom of the press. A review of replies received by the ICHR from the Gaza Strip demonstrates that they are stereotypical as they often replicate a generic pattern. The nature of replies indicates that government bodies do not address complaints seriously enough. In the West Bank, replies sent to the ICHR by relevant bodies were detailed and stated reasons for the measures taken against complainants. On the other hand, replies typically and principally denied the validity of complaint. In general, these replies can be characterised as stereotypical. Based on ICHR monitoring, in 2022, relevant government bodies did not make any policies or take any new measures or actions to protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression. In the light of the foregoing, the ICHR submits several recommendations to protect, promote, and provide accountability for violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. It is worth noting that a number of these recommendation have already been made in previous ICHR reports. These are reiterated because no measures or actions have been implemented to address or bring an end to relevant violations. Competent authorities need to review effective legislation relating to the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including penal laws and Law on Printed Materials and Publication. These will be amended in consistence with the State of Palestine’s obligations under the international conventions it has acceded to. Judicial bodies should not resort to an unrestricted discretion of preventive detention. This action needs to be limited to extraordinary cases, which involve imminent danger that can only be put off by preventive detention. Preventive detention should not be used as a tool for punishment. The Gaza-based MoI needs to issue directives to its respective Police and security agencies to cease impingements on the right to freedom of opinion and expression. 2.1.5 Right to peaceful assembly The ICHR received 26 complaints on violations of the right to peaceful assembly, including 20 complaints in the West Bank and six in the Gaza Strip. Compared to the Gaza governorate in the Gaza Strip, the majority of complaints received by the ICHR in the West Bank generated from the Ramallah and El-Bireh and Hebron governorates. Patterns of abuses of the right to peaceful assembly were no different in 2022 than in the preceding years, particularly 2021 and 2020. Violations were essentially of a political nature and, to a lesser extent, demanded an adequate standard of living. Common patterns of impingements usually involved prevention and dispersal of, physical assaults on, detention of and summons service to participants in, peaceful assemblies. Executive Summary 2022