A/HRC/40/39 Israeli security forces on 7 April 2018. Although his family informed Israeli security forces that he suffered from a chronic liver and kidney condition and also informed them of his dietary and medication needs, those needs were not provided for while he was in custody. On 14 May, he stopped receiving medication altogether, which led to serious complications and his transfer to hospital, where he was in a coma for three days. He was released from custody on 28 May 2018, suffering from a loss of eyesight, possibly permanent. 38. Some Palestinians reported being arrested to pressure family members to turn themselves in. For instance, on 6 August 2018, in Abu Dis, Israeli security forces arrested a 63-year-old man with a heart condition and reduced mobility, and detained him for several hours to pressure his wanted 23-year-old son. He was released after the son turned himself in following threats by Israeli security forces to keep his father in detention. The NGO B’Tselem reported two similar cases in Abu Dis and Ayzariyah in September 2018. 45 Lack of access to justice and accountability 39. Lack of access to justice and accountability for Palestinian victims of violations committed by Israeli security forces persists. With the large number of killings at the Gaza fence during the reporting period, it is of particular concern that the internal fact-finding mechanism reportedly used by Israel to examine such incidents might not operate in line with international standards. 46 Several proceedings relating to older cases of apparent excessive use of force by Israeli security forces were closed with no resulting accountability during the reporting period. For a detailed analysis of accountability-related issues, see A/HRC/40/43. Restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly 40. Media, civil society and human rights defenders working on the promotion and protection of Palestinian rights continued to operate under increasing pressure from Israeli authorities.47 Reprisals against, and attempts to delegitimize and discredit, NGOs and other civil society actors continued. For example, B’Tselem was verbally attacked publicly by high-ranking politicians, including the Prime Minister of Israel. 48 Several civil society organizations in East Jerusalem were closed or had their closure orders extended on the basis of alleged ties to authorities of the State of Palestine 49 while legislative developments affected the funding, access and activities of others. Human rights defenders, journalists and media agencies were targeted and subject to harassment by the Israeli authorities and security forces. For example, on 7 May 2018, the Israeli authorities revoked the work visa of the director of Human Rights Watch in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, invoking alleged past involvement in boycott, divestment and sanctions activism. A challenge to this decision was pending in Israeli courts at the time of writing. 41. Journalists came under attack while covering demonstrations and clashes between demonstrators and Israeli security forces. In the West Bank, journalists were targeted with rubber coated bullets, crowd control measures and physical assault, especially during the demonstrations of December 2017.50 On 20 December 2017, Israeli security forces arrested a journalist covering a peaceful protest in East Jerusalem. He was released the same day on the condition that he would be banned from certain areas of East Jerusalem for 10 days, thus restricting his ability to work. During the same protest, an Israeli security forces officer used pepper spray on another journalist filming the protest. According to the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA), 24 Palestinian journalists were arrested by Israeli security forces during the reporting period, 11 of whom remained in 45 46 47 48 49 50 See www.btselem.org/routine_founded_on_violence/20181111_palestinians_arrested_to_ pressure_relatives. A/73/420, paras. 60–61. For further information on measures targeting human rights defenders, see A/HRC/40/43. See www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-denounces-btselem-chiefs-un-speech-as-full-of-lies/. Mordechai Sones, “Israel extends ban on PA operations in Jerusalem”, Israel National News, 1 February 2018. Available at www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/241457. See para. 26 above. 9