Status of Human Rights in Palestine In line with its vision, ICHR recommended the National Consensus Government to assume its responsibilities and reach an agreement with the government of Egypt to end the suffering of the citizens at Rafah Crossing, and to reach a specific mechanism to open the Crossing and enable the citizens to travel without complications. The MOI should suspend the security check procedure which is required to issue passports to the Gaza population, and suspend all cases of denial of passports for security reasons without a court order, to ensure that the needs of Gaza population are met and to enable them to get passports in a reasonable time. The official agencies in Gaza Strip should stop introducing administrative procedures to prevent the citizens from travelling or to restrict their movement, such as the decision which states that the MOI’s prior consent is a requirement to travel through Beit Hanoun Crossing, because such decision violates the citizens’ right to movement and travel. 2.1.5 24 The Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression The Decree-Law No. 16 of 2017 concerning the cybercrimes was considered to be a true threat to the freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to privacy and inviolability of private life of the citizens. It is also considered a substantial violation of the amended Basic Law, and of the international human rights conventions to which Palestine is a party. On the other hand, ICHR received 67 complaints which represent 67 violations against the freedom of opinion and expression; including 37 complaints in the West Bank and 30 complaints in Gaza Strip. The complaints received from the West Bank include 19 complaints related to the freedom of press and media; including 3 complaints related to the freedom of publishing and broadcast and 18 complaints related to violations regarding the use of social media platform “Facebook”. In 2017, arrest and indictment of journalists and activists who expressed their opinions were performed by the Public Prosecution, under the law issued in 2017 concerning the cybercrimes in force in the West Bank. Others were charged with misuse of technology, under the amendment made by the Change & Reform Bloc at the Legislative Council in Gaza to the Penal Code No. 74 of 1936 in force in Gaza Strip. 23rd Annual Report 1 January - 31 December 2017