198 Chapter Two Mechanisms and Procedures for Accountability in Human Rights Violations In 2010, the Palestinian Government in the West Bank tended to constitute and activate new internal control bodies, such as expanding the authorities of the Inspector General of Palestinian General Intelligence (PGI), appointing an Inspector General, and establishing the Office of the Ombudsman and Human Rights at the Police Service. The Ministry of the Interior in the West Bank also played a more efficient role in handling complaints lodged at his office. The Government in the Gaza Strip has declared through its officials the formation of a number of investigating committees to look into the killings and shootings carried out against a number of citizens during the Israeli aggression, and the events that took place in the mosque Ibn Taymiyah in Rafah following the clashes which broke out between a number of armed Salafi members, the security forces and al‐Qassam Brigades. However, no results were announced by these committees. During 2010, alarming and quite serious human rights violations continued, represented by unlawful killings in the Gaza Strip during the Israeli aggression, torture and other cruel types of harsh treatment that degrade human dignity, and arbitrary detention in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, all due to the weakness of the accountability procedures taken against the perpetrators. The public statements issued by PNA officials or the Government to condemn the events and protect human rights resulted in no significant results on the ground. I‐ Responsibility and Accountability in National Legislation Article (6) of the Basic Law asserts that "The principle of the rule of law shall be the basis of government in Palestine. All governmental powers, agencies, institutions and individuals shall be subject to the law" whereas Article (9) avows that "Palestinians shall be equal before the law and the judiciary…." The provisions of the abovementioned Articles, and similar ones in Part II of the Basic Law, highlight the mandatory nature and the importance of respect for human rights and freedoms. These Articles also lay the foundations for adopting