Executive Summary
security forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip continued suppressing
media freedoms in violation of the right to freedom of expression, media
activity, publishing, use of Social Media, and to access information and
criticize public figures. The law concerning cybercrimes was issued with
no transparency and sufficient consultations, and therefore, it needs to be
reconsidered and revisited.
The right to life was grossly violated in Gaza Strip as 6 death sentences were
carried out without following the prescribed legal actions. The military
court continued rendering death sentences and affirmed 21 out of 37 death
sentences. These procedures breach the obligations and treaties acceded by
the State of Palestine, such as the ICCPR, the Convention against Torture,
and the Palestinian Basic Law. In addition to violations committed by the
security forces in both divisions of Palestine including violation of the
right to freedom of movement and travel across the crossings, denial of
passports and the political arrests.
The judicial system continued being subject to the security agencies and
executive authority dominance which undermined the judicial performance
and independence. This constitutes a violation of the law and the principle
of the separation of powers. Furthermore, the Decree Law on High Criminal
Court breaches the safeguards of the right to a free trial, restricts the right
to defense, and violates the judicial integrity and independency.
In the same context, ICHR detected many violations, most prominently,
disrespect of the court rulings, the right to the due legal process; including
arbitrary arrest on the grounds of political affiliation, the right to physical
integrity; including torture, ill-treatment, and excessive use of force, the
right to peaceful assembly. In addition to violations of the right to hold
public office and the rights of public servants which includes competition
on positions and the employment rights.
We observed increasing detentions in the Governor’s custody, as well as
in the custody of the Joint Security Committee (JSC) and heads of security
agencies, which are all unconstitutional measures in violation of the Basic
Law, and the relevant legislation and conventions to which Palestine State
has acceded.
The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR)
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