The Independent Commission for Human Rights - ICHR 45 personnel. The energy supply deficit resulted in an inability to provide adequate electricity to power and operate water projects and programmes, mainly seawater desalination and sanitation. During the Israeli aggression, the water desalination plant in Northern Gaza had to suspended operation as a result of risks posed to personnel and damage caused to local power lines, affecting some 250,000 people’s access to drinking water. Due to incessant power outage, approximately 160,000 people in the Gaza city had limited capacity to access piped water. Electricity shortages also impacted water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities across the Gaza Strip, including water wells, reservoirs, and wastewater treatment stations. The Israeli offensive caused damage to water pipelines in the Gaza city, Tal al-Hawa, and Al-Muntar areas. Damage and losses in the Gaza water and sanitation sector were estimated at US$ 14.2 million. According to OCHA, more than 290 water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities were damaged during the most recent Israeli attack on Gaza. Recommendations Israeli attacks, violations of IHL and IHRL, systematic policies, and arbitrary practices were major challenges that adversely impacted the enjoyment of fundamental human rights by Palestinian citizens. The ongoing tight siege on the Gaza Strip is in breach of all basic human rights and a contributing factor to the deteriorating situation of economic and social rights of the Gaza population. The occupation is the primary cause of worsening human rights situation. Ending the occupation is a prerequisite for Palestinians to full exercise their right to self-determination and enjoy fundamental rights. Against this backdrop, the ICHR recommends that the State of Palestine: • Continue to exercise pressure on the international community to ending the protracted Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian territory since 1967, establish the State of Palestine’s sovereignty over the Palestinian territory, and protect the Palestinian people’s right to life and self-determination. • Demand that the United Nations intervene seriously to put an end to Israel’s increasing day-today violations and take necessary measures to provide protection to Palestinians across the oPt. • Call on the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions to intervene and ensure that the occupying Power uphold the Geneva Conventions, honour relevant legal obligations, and enforce international conventions, to which it is a party, to the oPt, including East Jerusalem. • Call for, exert efforts, and take immediate and urgent actions and interventions to bring to an end the policies of homes demolition, forced displacement, and eviction of Palestinians, ensuring they are not expelled out of their homes. Demonstrating respect for the principles of IHL, Israel will guarantee a secure life for and avoid discrimination against Jerusalemites. • Call on the international community, human rights organisations, and humanitarian actors to provide serious intervention and challenge Israeli practices, put an immediate end to the Israeli inhuman crippling siege on the Gaza Strip, open all crossing points to the movement of persons and goods, facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance and essential needs for the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, particularly water, sanitation, and electricity facilities, and provided needed financial support. The Gaza population will be enabled to enjoy human rights enshrined in all international human rights conventions and instruments. • Call on the United Nations treaty bodies to invigorate their oversight role over the occupying Power and violations of economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian population. Treaty bodies will expose and divulge the role of these violations in constraining the ability of the State of Palestine to ensure the fundamental rights of Palestinian citizens. Twenty Seventh Annual Report 2021