A/HRC/22/35 60. In April 2012, OHCHR interviewed a person who had been detained by the Palestinian Preventive Security Service in the south of the West Bank. The person stated that he had been ill-treated by Service officers, who informed him that he had to spend the 45-day interrogation period in solitary confinement. He was brought to a small, cold cell; forced to hold his hands up for several hours during the night without break; forced to take off his clothes during interrogation; forced to sleep naked on the ground without a blanket or mattress; and beaten and kicked several times. He was often slapped on the face and hit with a water-filled plastic bottle on the left ear. He received no medical treatment. Another detainee interviewed by OHCHR in June 2012 reported that he was subjected to daily interrogation and occasional shabeh during the first few weeks of his detention. He spent 22 days without being allowed to shower. He explained that shabeh usually started Thursday afternoon and lasted until early Sunday, when neither the International Committee of the Red Cross nor human rights organizations conduct visits. He noted that shabeh often lasted for extremely long periods, even through the night, during which he was not allowed to sleep. He was also beaten once while handcuffed. 61. According to information gathered by OHCHR, ill-treatment, including shabeh and beatings, among others, has also been used during interrogations in civil, i.e., non-security related, cases. 3. Civil liberties, including freedom of expression, association and assembly 62. During a peaceful protest against a meeting between the Palestinian Authority president and an Israeli official at the end of June 2012, Palestinian security forces physically assaulted journalists and protesters. One of several journalists covering the demonstration, Muhammad Jaradat, was beaten, detained, and had his camera confiscated by four security officers in civilian uniform while covering the protest on 30 June 2012. Mr. Jaradat was taken to the police station, where he was again assaulted by police officers in civilian uniform with a baton, in the presence of fellow officers, who took no action. Mr. Jaradat was released a few hours later. IV. Conclusions and recommendations 63. Serious violations of international law continued to be committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory throughout the reporting period. The general human rights situation remains of heightened concern and needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. 64. OHCHR is especially concerned by the recurrence of violations highlighted in several previous reports of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Secretary-General. Most such violations could have been avoided, should the relevant duty bearers have taken the necessary preventive and corrective actions that are highlighted in the recommendations below. 65. The lack of accountability for violations of international human rights and humanitarian law remains a fundamental concern. A. Recommendations to the Government of Israel 66. The Government of Israel must take all possible measures to ensure full respect of its obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions, and international human rights law, during the conduct of hostilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 16