Glossary

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades

Armed group affiliated with Fatah

Executive Force

Security force in Gaza established by the Hamas government in 2006

Fatah

Chief political organization of the Palestine Liberation Army

General Intelligence Service (GIS)

Domestic intelligence agency now limited to the West Bank, which reports to President Abbas

Hamas

Islamic Resistance Movement

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

Israeli armed forces

'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades

Armed wing of Hamas

National Security Force

Security force of the Palestinian Authority now run by Fatah in the West Bank and by Hamas in Gaza

Internal Security Force (ISF)

Security force in Gaza established by Hamas in September 2007, which deals with domestic security and reports to the Minister of Interior

Palestinian National Authority (PA)

Government of the OccupiedPalestinianTerritory as mandated in the Oslo Accords

Palestinian civil police

Police in both Gaza and the West Bank who report to the respective Ministers of Interior

PCHR

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, human rights group operating in the West Bank and Gaza

PICCR

Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens' Rights, established in 1993 as the human rights commission of the PA, renamed the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) in May 2008

Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC)

Legislative body of the Palestinian National Authority

Presidential Guard

Security force now limited to the West Bank, which reports to President Abbas

Preventive Security Organization

Security force now limited to the West Bank, which reports to the Minister of Interior

PLO

Palestine Liberation Organization

shabah

Arabic term for painful stress positions used as torture