The majority of the 54 shops inside the historical Souk Al-Qatanin remain unopened since the Israeli authorities closed the Qatanin entrance leading to Al-Haram Al-Sharif (Al-Aqsa compound) on Friday, 14 July 2017. Following the closure of the Old City (14-16 July), only three of the eight entrances leading to Al-Haram Al-Sharif were reopened to worshippers. Israeli authorities, however, installed metal detectors on the three entrances, which worshippers refused to enter through for fear of changes in the status quo. ^[1]The Qatanin entrance remains closed.^[2]

Beginning in early June, Palestinian internet providers began blocking approximately sixteen websites allegedly on grounds of a decision made by the Attorney General. Since then, these websites have been blocked and inaccessible to the public. The blocked websites often post news or opinions that are critical of the Palestinian Authority.

Al-Haq participated in the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, which took place between June 6-23, 2017. Al-Haq's engagement with the Council included a written submission, an oral statement, and participation in a side event marking fifty years of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.

June 2017 marks two grim milestones for Palestine: 10 years of closure of the Gaza Strip and 50 years of occupation. Although Israel imposed movement restrictions on people and goods in Gaza since the 1990s, they intensified in June 2007, following Israel’s response to the democratic election of Hamas.  Since then, Israel closed off Gaza by land, sea, and air, prohibiting entry into and exit from the Gaza Strip. The ten years of closure has created a man-made humanitarian crisis: 80 percent of Gaza’s population are now dependent on humanitarian aid, while poverty and unemployment rates have soared to over 40 per cent.  Meanwhile, one million Palestinians are currently food insecure – over half of the 1.9 million total population.